The American Crow Vs. The Common Raven

Common Raven

American Crow

A good friend recently asked what the difference was between a crow and a raven.  Everyone has seen crows around these parts; a large black bird, considerably larger than a blackbird.  We don't really have ravens around here, but they flourish in the northern part of the state. 


They are considerably larger than a crow, and have a sort of rough look about them.  The have a thick bill, and a head that begs for a trim.

The call of the the crow is, of course "caw-caw-caw".  When they all get together as a group. like they do around Loring Park, they are called a "murder of crows"  Weird.  The raven, however has a much more guttural call...almost a loud croaking.  There is another, smaller raven that inhabits the plains of West Texas and Oklahoma called the Chihuahuan Raven.  He has a tiny patch of white on the nape of his neck.  Sometimes you can only see it when he puffs up his head to utter his call "ay chihuahua, ay chihuahua."