I find that American Crows are more prevalent within the city and surrounding suburban areas, whereas the Common Raven is found in the outlying open areas - fields, mountains, rocky, hilly terrain.
I can always tell the difference between the two, from a distance, by the Crows fanned tail and the Ravens longer, wedge shaped tail.
The call of a Raven is fairly distinct from a Crow. The Raven has a deeper, guttural call as opposed to the Crows higher pitched 'caww'.
Ravens bills are much heavier and bigger looking than a Crows, Ravens are also much larger than Crows, and Ravens have shaggy looking throat feathers. Also a Raven will frequently soar like a Buteo, diving up and down, whereas you will normally see a Crow flapping all the way in a more direct flight.
Stephen Peterson
Logan, UT
From: "M. H. Wallace" <pooder@xmission.com>
Reply-To: "M. H. Wallace" <pooder@xmission.com>
To: BirdTalk <birdtalk@utahbirds.org>
Subject: [BirdTalk] Ravens vs. Crows
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 12:47:24 -0700
On the tail of Nicky's e-mail about Jack's wonderfully clear photo of a Raven at Antelope Island, I am curious to know a few things about Ravens and Crows here in Utah. How common are each here in Utah? How do folks differentiate the two at a distance? Are they typically seen at certain elevations and in certain geographic regions of Utah? I am familiar with both but am looking to increase what I know and wonder, would any of you share with this list-server's participants your insights and knowledge of the two as it pertains to Ravens and Crows here in Utah?
Happy birding,
Matthew Wallace
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