How to Identify a Common Raven

The common raven is frequently found in the Northeastern and Western U.S., Canada, and Western Mexico. Ravens are easy to identify except for their close resemblance to crows. Both the common raven and the American crow appear black in color and live in overlapping territory. The raven is larger, but the variation is too small to differentiate them at a distance. Follow these steps to identify the birds you find.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the wings for a blue tint or an iridescent shine off the feathers. If either feature is present, you are looking at a crow. Raven feathers are matte black.

2. Focus on the beak. A raven's beak is short and thick, a crow's is longer and thinner.

3. Listen for the distinctive caw-caw of a crow. Ravens have numerous calls including variations on rrrrrhh-rrrrrh and ahhh-ahhh.

4. Get a glimpse of the bird's tail while it is flying. A raven's tail feathers angle away from the body creating a wedge shape. Crow tails extend at less of an angle. The tail is only a small amount wider than the body, making the tail and body appear to be continuous.

5. Check to see if the birds neck feathers are smooth or ruffled. Identify crows by their smooth neck feathers and necks that are thinner than the head or body.

Tips & Warnings

• A group of common ravens is referred to as an unkindness.
• Edgar Allen Poe wrote a poem called "The Raven," which keeps the species popular even to people who aren't bird watchers.

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