Quick Answer
Yes, common ravens are larger than crows. Ravens are among the biggest species in the genus Corvus, while crows tend to be smaller. On average, ravens are about 21-27 inches (55-69 cm) long with a wingspan around 45-48 inches (115-122 cm). Crows measure 16-20 inches (41-51 cm) in length with a wingspan of 33-39 inches (84-99 cm). Ravens also weigh more, around 2.5 to 4.5 pounds (1.1 to 2 kg) compared to crows at 0.9 to 2 pounds (0.4 to 0.9 kg). The bill and feet of ravens are also larger and heavier duty than those of crows.
Raven vs Crow Size
There are several physical features that distinguish ravens from crows based on size:
Body Length
– Ravens have an average body length of 21-27 inches (55-69 cm) from head to tail.
– Crows measure 16-20 inches (41-51 cm) in length.
– Ravens are distinctly longer bodied than crows.
Wingspan
– Ravens have a wingspan around 45-48 inches (115-122 cm).
– Crows have a smaller wingspan of 33-39 inches (84-99 cm).
– The larger wingspan allows ravens to generate more lift and fly higher than crows.
Weight
– Ravens weigh 2.5 to 4.5 pounds (1.1 to 2 kg) on average.
– Crows are lighter at 0.9 to 2 pounds (0.4 to 0.9 kg).
– The higher weight of ravens contributes to their larger overall size compared to crows.
Bill Size
– Ravens have longer, thicker bills that measure 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.4 cm).
– Crows have smaller bills measuring around 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm).
– The bill size correlates with a raven’s larger body and enables them to open larger food items.
Foot Size
– Ravens have larger feet with thicker toes and claws than crows.
– This helps ravens grip larger prey and tools compared to crows.
Feature | Common Raven | Crow |
---|---|---|
Length | 21-27 in (55-69 cm) | 16-20 in (41-51 cm) |
Wingspan | 45-48 in (115-122 cm) | 33-39 in (84-99 cm) |
Weight | 2.5-4.5 lb (1.1-2 kg) | 0.9-2 lb (0.4-0.9 kg) |
Bill Size | 1.5-2.5 in (3.8-6.4 cm) | 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) |
This table summarizes the key size differences showing ravens are distinctly larger than crows. Ravens are the biggest species in the Corvus genus including crows, rooks, jackdaws, and others. Their larger size gives ravens an advantage handling larger food items and tools.
Species Profiles
To understand why ravens are bigger, it helps to look at some background on each species:
Common Raven
The common raven (Corvus corax) is a large, black passerine bird found across the Northern Hemisphere. Key facts include:
– Largest member of the Corvus genus.
– Omnivorous scavengers that adapt readily to human environments.
– Highly intelligent and social birds that mate for life.
– Communicate with a wide repertoire of sounds including knocking noises.
– Solves problems and uses tools more often than other corvids.
– Thicker bills adapted for tearing meat and accessing marrow inside bones.
Ravens are opportunistic feeders and supremely adaptable birds. Their large size benefits collecting and defending carrion. Ravens are sometimes considered tricksters in folklore for their intelligence and complex social interactions.
Crow
The name “crow” refers to a few smaller Corvus species with similar features that overlap in size. Common species include:
– American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
– Hooded crow (Corvus cornix)
– Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
– Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
– Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Crows are medium-sized birds that frequent woodlands, agricultural fields, and urban parks. Key facts about crows include:
– Highly social, intelligent, and family oriented birds.
– Omnivorous diet of insects, seeds, fruits, nuts, fish, carrion, and garbage.
– Excellent memory helps crows recognize dangerous people and situations.
– Some species use tools to probe holes for food.
– Calls include cawing, rattles, knocks, and bells.
The smaller size of crows is well suited for maneuvering through trees and chattering in large social flocks. But their smaller size also means they cannot access some larger food sources.
Diet and Hunting
The larger size of ravens gives them advantages finding food:
Carrion
Ravens are well equipped as scavengers to reach large carcasses. Their thick bills help tear meat from bones and give access to bone marrow. In contrast, crows cannot break through some hides and bones.
Hunting
While opportunistic scavengers, ravens occasionally hunt rodents, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Their intelligence helps ravens stalk and ambush prey. Crows prey mostly on smaller items like insects, snails, and juvenile birds.
Foraging
Both species are omnivorous, but ravens are better at retrieving food buried underground with their larger and heavier bills. Ravens also consume a wider range of fruits, seeds, eggs, and nuts.
Human Foods
Ravens exploit human food sources like trash bins, compost piles, and outdoor pet food. Crows cannot open these containers as easily due to their smaller size and bill.
Caching Food
Both species cache food for later use. Ravens are better suited for hiding and relocating larger food items due to their spatial memory and size.
Nesting and Roosting
The larger size of ravens gives advantages in nesting and roosting:
Nest Sites
Ravens build large nests in trees, on cliffs, and on man-made structures like cell phone towers. Crows nest high in treetops or on artificial platforms. The bulkier nests of ravens require larger branches or structures.
Nest Defense
Ravens are highly territorial and will chase away other predatory birds or mammals near their nest site. Larger size makes ravens more formidable nest defenders than crows against potential threats.
Roosts
During winter, ravens gather in large communal night-time roosts numbering hundreds or thousands of birds. The intimidating size of ravens provides protection from predators at roosts.
Intelligence
Common ravens and crows both possess high intelligence and problem-solving abilities:
Social Complexity
Ravens have sophisticated social relationships beyond simple mating pairs. Their large brains allow ravens to form social alliances, grudges, and reconciliation. Crows also display complex sociality but with less evidence of higher-order capabilities.
Tool Use
Wild ravens use tools more than any other corvid except the New Caledonian crow. Ravens use sticks, rocks, and other objects as tools to access food and solve problems. Their larger bill and body size helps manipulate tools better than smaller Corvus crows.
Insight and Memories
Studies show ravens understand cause-and-effect relationships and plan for future needs based on memories. Captive ravens can learn words, shapes, patterns, and object properties. Crows have impressive memories but less evidence of insight and foresight capabilities.
Mimicry
Common ravens can mimic sounds like animal calls as well as some human words and phrases. The larger vocal organ of ravens allows a broader range of mimicry compared to crows.
Adaptability to Human Landscapes
Both highly intelligent corvids have adapted well to human-altered environments:
Crop Raiding
Ravens are major crop raiders on farms, exploiting grain fields and livestock feed. Crows also raid crops but prefer smaller seeds and do not access barns as well.
Urban Life
Ravens thrive around urban buildings that mimic cliff nesting sites. They also exploit trash as a food source. Crows are similarly adapted to cities but keep more to parks and neighborhoods.
Roadkill Scavenging
Roadkill draws in ravens as a consistent food source. They can easily dismember carcasses killed by vehicles. Crows access roadkill but only deal with smaller items.
Airports
Ravens loiter near airports and planes where they forage and scavenge for food. Their large size and movements in groups pose risks of bird strikes on aircraft. Crows are also airport pests but less hazardous.
Range and Population Status
The common raven has a broader range and is more numerous in populations than crows:
Range
– Common ravens occur across much of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America.
– Crows are absent from higher latitude regions far north like Alaska and Siberia.
– Ravens inhabit many deserts avoided by crows.
Population Status
– Common raven populations are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List with increasing numbers.
– Crow species like the American crow remain widespread and abundant as well.
– Ravens adapt well to human activities enabling their populations to grow.
Habitat Flexibility
– Ravens use many habitats including mountains, forests, shrublands, deserts, and human settings.
– Crows prefer forests interspersed with open areas but avoid dry open deserts occupied by ravens.
Conclusion
In summary, common ravens are distinctly larger birds than crows in terms of body size, wingspan, weight, bill size, and foot size. Their greater size gives ravens ecological advantages accessing food resources, building nests, mobbing predators, and wielding tools. While crows possess impressive intelligence, ravens exhibit more sophisticated behaviors related to their larger brains and bodies. The adaptability of ravens enables them to exploit diverse habitats and dominate many areas that overlap with crows and other corvids. Understanding the size differences helps properly identify ravens and crows as well as appreciate their distinct roles as highly intelligent scavengers and predators within ecosystems.