Blackbirds, crows, and ravens may look similar at first glance, but they are actually three distinct species of birds. Crows and ravens belong to the genus Corvus while blackbirds belong to the genus Turdus. Determining whether a blackbird is actually a crow or raven requires looking at differences in size, coloration, beaks, behavior, habitat, and calls between the three species.
Size difference between blackbirds, crows, and ravens
The most noticeable difference between blackbirds, crows, and ravens is their size. Blackbirds are medium-sized songbirds, usually 8-24 inches in length. The common blackbird (Turdus merula) of Europe is around 9.8-11.8 inches long with a wingspan of 14.2-16.5 inches. The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) common in North America is 6.7–9.1 in long with a 13.8–15.8 in wingspan. On the small end, the Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) of western North America is about 8–10 in long with a wingspan of 13.8–15.8 in.
Crows are noticeably larger than blackbirds. Most crows are 17-21 inches long. The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is around 17.5 inches long with a wingspan of 33.5–39.4 in. The northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus) is around 19 inches long with a wingspan of 36 inches. The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is the smallest North American crow at just 15 inches long.
Ravens are much larger than both blackbirds and crows. The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is 20-26 inches long with a wingspan of 45-51 inches. Ravens are as large as hawks or vultures when in flight.
Size comparison
Bird | Length | Wingspan |
---|---|---|
Blackbird | 8-24 in | 13.8-16.5 in |
Crow | 15-21 in | 33.5-39.4 in |
Raven | 20-26 in | 45-51 in |
As the table shows, ravens and crows are significantly larger than blackbirds. This size difference alone can rule out blackbirds being juvenile crows or ravens.
Coloration differences between blackbirds, crows, and ravens
In addition to size, the species can be distinguished by differences in coloration. The European Common Blackbird is indeed black, with a yellow eye-ring and bill. However, North American blackbirds have more varied plumage. Male Red-winged Blackbirds are mostly black with red and yellow shoulder patches. Tricolored Blackbirds are black with white streaks on the wings and red and white markings on the shoulder.
Crows are most commonly all black, though they can have gray on the back of their head, throat, and breast. Ravens have more variation in plumage. Common Ravens are larger and entirely black, with a thick bill. However, some ravens have gray patches of feathers interspersed along their throat, head, and shoulders.
Color patterns
Bird | Coloration |
---|---|
Blackbird | Mostly black with some red/yellow markings |
Crow | All black or black with some gray |
Raven | All black or black with gray patches |
While blackbirds, crows, and ravens can overlap in color, the patterns and extent of non-black coloring can distinguish them. Blackbirds always have some red or yellow markings, while crows and ravens lean towards more solid black or black and gray.
Beak differences between blackbirds, crows, and ravens
Looking at the bill or beak shape of blackbirds, crows, and ravens reveals more differences. Blackbirds have slender pointed bills adapted for eating insects, snails, worms, berries, and seeds. Their bill is approximately the same length and depth.
Crows have large, curved, heavy bills. Their upper and lower bill curve together smoothly to a point. The upper bill overhangs the lower bill slightly, adapted for cracking hard nuts and seeds.
Ravens have the largest and heaviest bills of the three species. Their bill is longer and thicker, arched higher than crows. The tip of the upper bill overhangs the lower bill more dramatically. This heavy bill suits their scavenging habits, allowing them to tear tough meat from carcasses.
Bill comparisons
Bird | Bill shape |
---|---|
Blackbird | Slender, pointed, approximately equal upper and lower half |
Crow | Thick, curved, smooth, upper half slightly longer |
Raven | Very thick and arched, long upper overhang |
The larger, heavier bills of crows and ravens suit their omnivorous scavenging habits compared to the slenderer bill of insect-eating blackbirds. The raven’s exaggerated bill is a noticeable distinction from crows.
Behavioral differences between blackbirds, crows, and ravens
These species can also be recognized by differences in their behavior. Blackbirds are territorial songbirds. They sing melodious songs from high perches to defend their breeding territories. They may gather in large flocks in migration or winter.
Crows are highly social and gather in large communal roosts at night. During the day, they forage in small familial groups. Crows cooperate to mob predators or food sources and make a wide range of calls.
Ravens are also social, bonding in pairs. But they tend to travel in pairs rather than large flocks. Ravens soar together in aerial acrobatic displays. They perform remarkable feats of cunning and mimicry in the wild.
Behavioral traits
Bird | Behavior |
---|---|
Blackbird | Territorial singing, roosting in dense cover |
Crow | Flocking behavior, cooperative mobbing |
Raven | Pairs, aerial displays, remarkable intelligence |
These differing lifestyles and social patterns reflect the blackbird’s songbird ancestry compared to the crow and raven’s higher intelligence and reliance on social bonding.
Habitat preferences of blackbirds, crows, and ravens
These three bird species also occupy different habitats in nature. Blackbirds thrive best in wetlands. Red-winged blackbirds prefer freshwater marshes. Tricolored blackbirds nest near ponds and streams in tall dense cattails. The common European blackbird inhabits thickets, parks, and gardens.
Crows are highly adaptable generalists but thrive around human habitation. They nest in trees but forage in open lawns, fields, roadsides, parking lots, and trash piles. Fish crows inhabit coastlines and river corridors.
Ravens nest on remote cliffs, crags, and mountains. They forage in open habitats like tundra, beaches, sagebrush, and deserts. Ravens avoid developed areas occupied by abundant crows but may visit rural or remote human sites.
Preferred habitats
Bird | Habitat |
---|---|
Blackbird | Wetlands, streamsides, thickets |
Crow | Woodlots, open country, rural and urban areas |
Raven | Remote mountains, badlands, coasts |
These habitat preferences separate blackbirds from the more generalized crows and remote-dwelling ravens. Rarely would all three species overlap in the same locations in nature.
Differences in calls between blackbirds, crows, and ravens
Finally, listening to the vocalizations of blackbirds, crows, and ravens reveals distinct differences. Male blackbirds sing rich melodious warbling songs. Both sexes give metallic chuck calls when disturbed. The Red-winged Blackbird has a distinctive kon-ka-ree call.
Crows give a familiar cawing sound in various patterns. They can make rattles, coos, and clear bell-like notes as well. Fish crows have a distinctive nasal caw.
Ravens produce deeper croaking or gurgling sounds. Their calls are lower-pitched than crows, with more variation in tone. Common Ravens give a distinctive, thick gravelly “prruk-prruk-prruk” call.
Typical vocalizations
Bird | Call |
---|---|
Blackbird | Melodious songs, metallic chucks |
Crow | Cawing, rattles, coos, bell notes |
Raven | Croaks, gurgles, deep and variable |
These distinctive calls can aid identification, especially when the birds are heard but not seen. The raven’s deep gravelly voice is unlike any blackbird or crow sounds.
Conclusion
Blackbirds, crows, and ravens may appear similar but can be distinguished by their size, proportions, behavior, calls, and preferred habitats. Blackbirds such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Blackbirds are smaller with colorful markings. They have melodious songs and live around water.
Crows are larger, completely black, and highly social. They thrive around human settlements. Crows give familiar caws and rattles in cooperative flocks.
Ravens are the largest, with massive bills adapted for tearing meat. They form lifelong pair bonds and perform remarkable aerial displays. Ravens prefer remote habitats and give deep croaking calls.
So while an untrained observer may lump these three species together, an understanding of their differences clearly shows that blackbirds are unique songbirds while crows and ravens belong to an exceptional lineage of highly intelligent corvid birds.
A blackbird may at first glance appear similar to crows or ravens but has many distinct characteristics. Its smaller size, colorful markings, melodious songs, wetland habitat, and insect-probing bill all mark it as a songbird unrelated to those larger, all-black corvids.
While crows and ravens have greater similarities, differences in size, proportions, preferred habitat, aerobatic displays, and vocalizations distinguish them from each other. The raven is the larger, more remote wilderness species while crows thrive among humans.
So the question of whether blackbirds are crows or ravens clearly has a definitive answer. Though they share some superficial physical traits, blackbirds belong to an entirely different family than crows and ravens. And crows and ravens occupy their own unique niches, despite their close relationship. Careful observation and study reveals the identifying characteristics separating blackbirds, crows, and ravens.
Blackbirds are songbirds. Crows are highly intelligent urban-dwelling corvids. And ravens are wilderness-loving tricksters and acrobats. While observers can be forgiven for noting certain similarities, ornithology shows these three types of birds belong to separate species with distinct characteristics.