Ravens are much bigger than crows, but this can be hard to determine unless you see them side by side.
A crow, the smaller of the two birds. (Courtesy Imageafter.com)
Welcome to this week’s edition of Something Wild. I’m Rosemary Conroy for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Ravens used to be considered birds that you only saw if you went way north or way out west. Thanks to the return of New Hampshire’s forest over the past 100 years, it’s actually become fairly common to see these glossy black birds throughout the Granite State.
So how do you know, if it’s a raven flying overhead or just its close cousin, the crow? Well, at this time of year in particular, crows tend to gather in large flocks — sometimes hundreds if not thousands at a time. You’re most likely to see these large gathering in urban areas just before sunset. Crows seem to like to roost together in winter. So if you’re seeing a particularly large number of corvids, I’d guess crow.
Ravens are much bigger than crows, but this can be hard to determine unless you see them side by side. They also have a significantly larger beak, bigger neck ruff, and a more diamond-shaped tails than crows, but again, those are not always easy things to pick out.
But if you see a black bird soaring, however, that usually always means raven. This species cannot only soar for long distances, but can perform all kinds of amazing aerial acrobatics. Crows pretty much stick to your basic flapping.
The best way to discern the difference between ravens and crows, of course, is to not use your eyes but your ears. While they both have a fairly extensive repertoire, crows typically sound like this: (caw caw).
Ravens, on the other hand, usually go for a deeper, less strident note: (raven crock crock).
Sometimes, if you’re a really good mimic, you can get a raven to call back to you. Or on really good days, do a barrel roll as it flies by.
Something Wild is a joint production of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, New Hampshire Audubon, and New Hampshire Public Radio.
For Something Wild, I’m Rosemary Conroy.
