Crow vs Raven: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between crows and ravens is size and shape: ravens are much larger, with a heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers and a wedge-shaped tail, while crows are smaller with a fan-shaped tail. Ravens give a deep croak and often soar; crows caw and flap steadily. Both belong to the genus Corvus, and 'raven' is simply the name given to its biggest species.
| American Crow | Common Raven | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Corvus corax |
| Lifespan | 7–8 years in the wild; the oldest banded wild bird was at least 17 | 10–15 years in the wild; the oldest banded wild birds passed 20 |
| Weight | 316–620 g (11–22 oz) | 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb) |
| Size | 40–53 cm (16–21 in) (length) | 1.0–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) (wingspan) |
| Top speed | — | — |
| Gestation / incubation | 16–18 days | 20–25 days |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Family | Corvidae | Corvidae |
| Habitat | Farmland, Open woodland, Towns and cities, Parks, Shorelines | Mountains, Coniferous forest, Tundra, Desert, Sea cliffs |
| IUCN status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Figures shown are for the american crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and the common raven (Corvus corax).
Key differences
Size
The common raven is the largest of all songbirds, closer in size to a red-tailed hawk than to the American crow. It has a longer wingspan and weighs roughly twice as much as a crow. Size is hard to judge when a bird is alone against the sky, so shape and voice are usually more reliable.
Tail shape
In flight, a raven's tail looks like a wedge or diamond, because the central feathers are longer than the outer ones. A crow's tail feathers are all about the same length, so the spread tail forms a rounded fan. This is the single best field mark for a bird overhead.
Bill and throat
A raven has a thick, heavy, strongly curved bill, with bristly feathers covering much of its upper surface. Its throat feathers, called hackles, are long and pointed and look shaggy, especially when the bird calls. A crow's bill is slimmer and straighter, and its throat feathers lie smooth.
Voice
American crows give the familiar, clear 'caw, caw.' Common ravens have a much deeper, hoarser voice, typically a low, resonant croak or 'gronk,' along with a surprising variety of knocks, gurgles and bell-like notes. Both can mimic sounds, and captive ravens have learned to imitate human speech.
Flight
Ravens soar and glide on flat wings like a hawk, ride thermals, and perform aerial rolls and tumbles, sometimes even flying upside down briefly. Their longer, narrower wings show distinct 'fingers' at the tips. Crows rarely soar for more than a few seconds. They fly with steady, rowing wingbeats.
Social habits and habitat
Crows are highly social. They feed in groups, thrive in towns and farmland, and in winter gather in communal roosts that can number in the thousands. Adult ravens usually travel in pairs and defend a territory, and they favor wilder country such as mountains, coasts, deserts and northern forests, though they are increasingly seen in towns.
How to tell them apart
- Watch the tail in flight: a wedge or diamond shape means raven; a rounded fan means crow.
- Listen. A deep, croaking 'gronk' is a raven, while a higher, clear 'caw' is a crow.
- A big black bird soaring like a hawk without flapping is probably a raven.
- A shaggy throat and a very heavy, curved bill identify a raven up close.
- A large, noisy flock of black birds in a town or field is almost certainly crows.
What they have in common
Crows and ravens are members of the same genus, Corvus, in the family Corvidae, along with jays and magpies. Both are entirely glossy black, including the bill, legs and eyes. Both are omnivores that eat carrion, insects, grain, eggs and garbage, both form long-term pairs, and both rank among the most intelligent birds, able to solve puzzles, use tools and remember individual human faces.
Frequently asked questions
Are crows and ravens the same species?
No. They are separate species within the same genus, Corvus. The American crow is Corvus brachyrhynchos, and the common raven is Corvus corax. 'Crow' and 'raven' are not formal scientific groups; ravens are just the larger Corvus species, and they are not each other's closest relatives.
Which is smarter, a crow or a raven?
Both are exceptionally intelligent, and neither is clearly ahead. In experiments, ravens have planned for future events and bartered with humans, while New Caledonian crows manufacture hooked tools. American crows recognize and remember individual human faces for years. Scientists generally place corvids alongside parrots and great apes in problem-solving ability.
Can crows and ravens interbreed?
Almost never. A few cases of American crows and common ravens attempting to nest together have been reported, but hybridization is extremely rare. In fact, the two do not get along: crows frequently mob ravens and chase them away, because ravens prey on crow eggs and nestlings.
What is a group of crows or ravens called?
A group of crows is traditionally called a murder, and a group of ravens an unkindness or a conspiracy. These are fanciful terms dating from medieval English lists of collective nouns. Birdwatchers and scientists simply say 'flock.'