Carrion crows and ravens are both large members of the corvid family with jet-black, glossy plumage.
Typically seen in pairs or small family groups, they can appear similar from a distance, but there are key differences that make them easy to tell apart.
Crow
The carrion crow is the smaller of the two, with a sleek body, a large black blunt beak, and a wedge-shaped tail that appears fan-like in flight.
It flies with a steady, level motion, using slow wingbeats and often staying close to the ground. Its call is a loud, harsh “caw-caw,” usually repeated several times.
Raven
The raven is significantly larger – about twice the size of a crow – and has a much chunkier build, with a heavy head and a thick, powerful bill. While both birds have feathers around their bills, the raven’s throat feathers, known as hackles, are longer and more pronounced.
In flight, ravens often soar gracefully and can be highly acrobatic, sometimes flipping upside down with their wings folded. Their call is a deep, throaty “cronk-cronk,” setting them apart from the crow’s sharper cry.
