What is the differenece between a Crow and a Raven?

Question

They both seem pretty similar, so what are the differences really?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven

Answer 2

There are six members of this family found in Australia, five native breeding species and one infrequent self-introduction. Three are called crows and three ravens, although there is really little difference. Most Australian species are similar in size and colouration, and can be difficult to tell apart. In some cases, identification is aided by the separate ranges of different species, but differences in plumage, habits and calls offer good clues for distinguishing them. The bases of the feathers of the crows are white, while those of the ravens are grey, although this characteristic is perhaps only of benefit if birds are held in the hand or if discarded feathers are found.

Answer 3

The true crows are in the genus Corvus. They are large passerine birds. All temperate continents (except South America) and several offshore and oceanic islands (including Hawaii) have representatives of the 40 or so members of this genus.

Crows in the genus Corvus appear to have evolved in central Asia and radiated out into North America, Africa, Europe, and Australia.

The latest evidence appears to point towards an Australasian origin for the early family (Corvidae) though the branch that would produce the modern groups such as jays, magpies and large predominantly black Corvus Crows had left Australasia and were now developing in Asia. Corvus has since re-entered Australia (relatively recently) and produced five species with one recognised sub-species.

They range in size from the relatively small pigeon-sized jackdaws (Eurasian and Daurian) to the Common Raven of the Palearctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia.

In literary and fanciful usage, the collective noun for a group of crows is a murder. However, in practice most people, and especially scientists, use the more generic term flock.


Raven is the common name given to several large black birds of the genus Corvus. Other birds in the same genus are the smaller crows, jackdaws, and rooks.

In much of Europe and North America, raven is used as a synonym for the widespread Common Raven, and much of the literature and culture surrounding ravens refers to that species.

Raven species include:

Common Raven (C. corax)
Australian Raven (C. coronoides)
Forest Raven (C. tasmanicus)
Little Raven (C. mellori)
Thick-billed Raven (C. crassirostris)
White-necked Raven (C. albicollis)
Brown-necked Raven (C. ruficollis)
Chihuahuan Raven (C. cryptoleucos)

Answer 4

Ravens are a lot bigger than crows. They have larger bills. They are smarter. They can sing. Crows only croak, but ravens can imitate other birds, burble, gargle and make popping sounds like bells. There are more ravens near the arctic and crows in the south.

Answer 5

There is no clear difference between crows and ravens (Family Corvidae) other than a tradition that ravens are larger than crows. However, various types of ravens are no more related to each other than they are to one of the crows. In fact, the five native Australian species form a natural group whose members are closer to each other than they are to either crows or ravens on other continents...

Answer 6

Here in Central Europe ravens are rather rare, living in high mountains, and they are larger than crows. Crows live even in the cities, esp. in the winter. There are black and grey sub-species. A Raven was King Mathias of Hungary's symbolic bird.

Answer 7

The main difference is size. Ravens are much larger than Crows. There is however an interesting legend about Ravens and the British Monarchy. Thought you might like to see it:-

http://www.historic-uk.com/DestinationsUK/TowerRavens.htm

Answer 8

A raven is larger and smarter. A raven can also be taught to imitate human speech (although harder to understand than a parrot), and I've never heard that about a crow.

Answer 9

Crow is a singer and a Raven is a football team.

Answer 10

Never seen a scare raven. Ok crap answer but I'm up 2 points and I really need them or else I'll go back to level 1.

Answer 11

just a cheeky little answer this one the differences are that the raven is allowed in the tower of london and the crow is not