What's the difference?
The biggest and most obvious difference between them is their size. Ravens are quite a bit larger than crows. And while crows tend to gather in large flocks, ravens do not, although it is common to see a pair of ravens together.
Many people are familiar with the caw of crows. Ravens don't caw. Instead, they make a croaking sound that's similar to a frog.
| Crow: | |
| Raven: |
In flight, look to the birds' tails for clues to help with identification. The tail feathers of a crow are all the same length, so their tails have a fan-like appearance. Ravens have longer feathers in the middle of their tails, so it has a wedged appearance when it's open in flight. How they fly can also be telling. Ravens tend to soar in flight, riding along on updrafts of air, while crows will be seen flapping more.
Also check out their beaks. Ravens have more curved beaks than crows. Both birds have eyelash-like bristles where the bill meets the face, but these bristles are much longer and easily apparent on ravens than crows. One last physical difference between the two is the throat feathers. A crow's throat feathers are smooth and sleek, while a raven's are more ragged and shaggy in appearance.
Source = www.reconnectwithnature.org
