Differentiating ravens and crows

Learned from this observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73204495 and this podcast https://www.alieward.com/ologies/corvid-thanatology.

As a general rule of thumb only, may not apply to all species

  • Australian crow species have white down under their feathers, ravens have grey down under their feathers.
  • Species have different sheens to their outer feathers: Australian Raven - purple/green/grey sheen; Forest Raven & Little Raven - deep black; Little crow & Torresian Crow - blue/violet sheen.
  • Audible and visible aspects of the call are important - ravens typically have more prominent throat hackles than crows (but these can be smoothed down when not calling).
  • There can be species specific behavioural aspects - e.g. Little Raven wiggles its wings

Australian Raven (long throat hackles):

Image by johncull from observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73929919

Australian Raven (grey down):

Image by namack from observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70477316

Torresian Crow (short throat hackles):

Image by Natasha Taylor from observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73277623

Torresian Crow (white down):

Image by deborod from observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69762255


Image by Richard Yank from from observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69770865

Posted on 15 April, 2021 01:49 by tamika_lunn tamika_lunn

Comments

No comments yet.

Add a Comment

Sign In or Sign Up to add comments