No, the pied crow is not a raven. The pied crow (Corvus albus) is a species of bird in the crow family known as Corvidae. It is native to eastern and southern Africa. The raven, on the other hand, refers to several larger-bodied species in the genus Corvus, such as the common raven (Corvus corax), found across the Northern Hemisphere. While both crows and ravens belong to the same broader family, they are distinct groups of birds with some key differences.
Classification and taxonomy
Crows and ravens belong to the family Corvidae in the order Passeriformes. This family contains over 120 species, including crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. Within the Corvidae family, the genus Corvus contains around 40 species, characterized by their mostly black plumage, loud calls, and highly intelligent behavior.
The common naming conventions for Corvus species are:
– Relatively small-bodied, entirely black species are generally referred to as “crows”. This includes species like the American crow, northwestern crow, fish crow, and pied crow.
– Larger-bodied species with more varied plumage are generally referred to as “ravens”. This includes the common raven, Australian raven, white-necked raven, and thick-billed raven.
– In between the crows and ravens in size, some Corvus species with black plumage are referred to as “rooks” or “jackdaws”.
So while both crows and ravens belong to the genus Corvus, they represent distinct groups based on body size and plumage differences. The pied crow is considered a true crow, while ravens are larger, heavier-billed, and less uniformly black.
Identification
Here are some key features to distinguish the pied crow from a raven:
Size and proportions
– Pied crows reach about 16-19 inches in length, and weigh around 11 ounces on average. They have proportionally smaller bills and feet.
– Ravens are much larger, reaching around 25 inches in length with a 4 foot wingspan. They weigh over 40 ounces on average. Ravens also have larger, heavier bills and feet relative to their body size.
Plumage
– Pied crows are named for their black and white plumage pattern. Adults have black bodies, wings, tail, and head, with thick white patches on the breast, nape, primary coverts, and bases of primaries.
– Ravens have glossy all-black plumage across most of their body, wings, tail and head. Some species may show white feather bases on the neck or throat.
Voice
– Pied crows give a range of cawing calls like other crows. Their calls are higher pitched and do not have the deep, croaking quality of raven vocalizations.
– Ravens have a deeper, resonating croaking call that is distinctly different from crows’ cawing.
Range and habitat
– The pied crow is found across eastern and southern Africa. Its range stretches from South Sudan to southern South Africa.
– Ravens have expansive ranges across the Northern Hemisphere and Australia. The common raven alone has a range spanning North America and Eurasia.
Behavioral differences
In addition to physical characteristics, pied crows and ravens differ somewhat in aspects of their behavior:
| Pied Crow | Raven |
|---|---|
| More social, may form large flocks | Usually found alone or in pairs, rarely in small groups |
| Builds nests in trees or cliffs | Builds nests predominantly on cliffs, rock faces, and in crevices |
| Omnivorous diet, eats insects, seeds, fruit | More carnivorous, eats carrion, eggs, small animals |
| Mainly coastal lowlands and grasslands | Woodlands, forests, mountains, and remote wilderness |
| Smaller home ranges | Very large home ranges |
| Quicker fluttering flight | Powerful soaring flight |
Intelligence and cognition
Crows and ravens are considered some of the most intelligent birds. Studies testing attributes like tool use, insight, and memory indicate both groups have very sophisticated cognitive abilities. Some key findings on their intelligence include:
Tool use
– Both crows and ravens are capable of using tools to solve problems. New Caledonian crows famously craft sticks into hooked tools to reach grubs. Ravens also use rocks to crack open eggs and hard foods.
Social learning
– Young ravens and crows learn complex behaviors by observing and interacting with elders and peers. This social learning is important for adapting techniques like tool use.
Insight and imagination
– In lab experiments testing insight and imagination, ravens and crows can solve multi-step puzzles and imagine scenarios unlike their normal experience.
Communication
– Crows and ravens have large vocabularies of calls. They can mimic sounds, invent new calls, and may be able to communicate abstract concepts.
Memory
– Both groups perform well on delayed matching-to-sample tasks testing short-term memory. Ravens in particular have shown the ability to recall images, locations, and individuals for months or years.
Overall, both pied crows and ravens exhibit impressive intelligence considered comparable in many ways to great apes and dolphins. Neither appears to consistently outperform the other cognitively.
Cultural significance
Crows and ravens have featured prominently in human culture, mythology, and folklore around the world:
Mythology
– In Greek mythology, Apollo sent a white raven, or crow in some accounts, to watch over his lover Coronis. When the raven reported her infidelity, an angry Apollo scorched the bird black, turning it from white to black.
– In Hinduism, it is believed crows represent ancestors and bring messages from the afterlife. Crow and raven themes are prevalent in Hindu epics and Puranic texts.
Folklore
– Across Europe, seeing a lone raven or crow was often considered a bad omen, predicting disaster, illness, or death. Their dark plumage associated them with sinister forces.
– In contrast, in many Native American tribes ravens and crows feature as creator spirits or wise tricksters who steal fire or sunlight for humans.
Literary and cultural symbols
– The raven appears frequently in the writings of Edgar Allan Poe as a symbol of mourning and loss. His famous poem “The Raven” uses the bird as a harbinger of despair.
– Crows and ravens are used as symbols in many national and regional coats of arms. They variously represent wisdom, longevity, death, and prophecy.
So while not interchangeable, both crows and ravens have an outsized presence in human cultures as symbols, omens, deities, and spirits. Their intelligence and sociality underpin many of the roles they have acquired.
Conclusion
In summary, the pied crow is considered a true member of the crow genus, while ravens represent a distinct group of larger, heavier-billed Corvus species. While both are highly intelligent birds, pied crows differ from ravens in their smaller size, calls, plumage pattern, habitat preferences, and some aspects of their behavior. Their resemblance is due to shared ancestry in the crow family, rather than ravens and crows belonging to the same exact species group. So in taxonomy and in practice, the pied crow is firmly in the “crow” category, not the “raven” category of birds. Their unique black and white plumage sets them apart from both crows and ravens, even as they share many traits and abilities with others in the ingenious Corvus genus.
