What is a crow like bird with a brown head?

There are a few birds that resemble crows and have brown heads that this article could be describing. Crows are medium-sized black birds with intelligence and adaptability that allow them to thrive around humans. Some birds that look similar include ravens, grackles, and blackbirds. To identify a crow-like bird with a brown head, we need to look at key features that distinguish it from true crows. This article will explore the possibilities and provide tips for identification.

What are some birds that look like crows with brown heads?

Here are the most likely candidates for a crow-like bird with a brown head:

Ravens

Ravens are the most closely related species to crows, and overlap in range with the American Crow. They share similarities like all-black plumage and throaty, croaking calls. Ravens are larger, however, with wedge-shaped tails and massive bills. Their feathers also have a blue-purple iridescence. Ravens have shaggy throat feathers that crows lack. Some raven subspecies have brown neck feathers, including the Common Raven of North America.

Grackles

Grackles belong to the blackbird family and are found throughout North America. They have glossy black plumage with iridescent purples and greens. Their eyes are pale yellow. Grackles have long, keel-shaped tails and thick, pointed bills adapted for eating aquatic creatures, grains and fruits. Male grackles have brown heads while females are darker gray-brown overall. The Common Grackle is widespread while the Boat-tailed and Great-tailed Grackles occur in the southeast US.

Blackbirds

Several species of blackbird have males with brown heads and females with gray-brown plumage. The Red-winged Blackbird is ubiquitous across North America. Males are jet black with bright red and yellow shoulder patches while females are brown-streaked. Tricolored Blackbirds are found in the western states. Males are black with a white median and red shoulders, while females are gray-brown. The meadowlarks are brown-streaked overall with yellow underparts and a black V on the chest.

Differences between crows and lookalikes

While these birds may resemble crows, there are some key differences that can help identify them:

Size

Crows are medium-sized songbirds, averaging 16-21 inches (40-55 cm) long with a wingspan around 3 feet (0.9 m). Ravens are noticeably larger at 24-27 inches (60-70 cm) long with 4 foot (1.2 m) wingspans. Blackbirds and grackles are smaller than crows.

Shape

Crows have fan-shaped, rounded tails. Ravens have wedge-shaped or diamond-shaped tails. Grackles have very long, keel-shaped tails.

Plumage

Crows are plain black all over. Ravens have distinctive shaggy throat feathers. Grackles have iridescent colors in their plumage. Blackbirds have colored patches on the shoulders or chest.

Beaks

Crows have short, straight bills. Ravens have larger, curved bills with tufts of feathering at the base. Grackles have thick, pointed bills.

Calls

Crows give a familiar “caw caw” sound. Ravens make deeper, hoarse croaks and clicks. Grackles make harsh, squeaking noises. Blackbirds have musical calls made up of clicks, whistles and gurgles.

Identifying the brown-headed crow lookalike

Based on these differences, the bird being described as a “crow-like bird with a brown head” most closely matches:

The Common Grackle

The grackle is medium-sized like a crow but with a long, tapered tail. Males have glossy black bodies with dark brown heads while females are gray-brown overall. Their yellow eyes, pointed bills, and iridescent feathers are key ID points. Grackles have a harsh “chek” call and make creaking and clicking sounds. They thrive around humans and forage in fields, parks, and parking lots. The grackle’s brown head and crow-like shape make it a good match for the mystery bird description.

Other features of grackles

Here are some more details about grackles that explain their resemblance to crows:

Intelligence

Like crows, grackles exhibit intelligence by adapting well to human environments and learning new foraging behaviors. Studies show grackles have good memories and problem-solving abilities like crows.

Omnivorous diet

Grackles are opportunistic foragers that eat a wide variety of foods including insects, small vertebrates, grains, seeds, fruits and even trash. This varied diet matches crows’ adaptability.

Gregariousness

Grackles congregate in large flocks, especially in fall and winter. This social behavior gives them an advantage locating food sources. Crows also form large winter flocks.

Nesting

Grackles build an enclosed, cup-shaped nest of twigs, grass and mud high up in trees. Crows construct similar large, messy nests lined with bark, moss and feathers.

Conclusion

In summary, the crow-like bird with a brown head is most likely the Common Grackle. The grackle shares key features with crows like size, intelligence, diet, social behavior and nesting habits. Its dark iridescent plumage, keel-shaped tail and yellow eyes distinguish it from the true American Crow. So next time you see a flock of noisy black birds foraging on the grass, look for the ones with long tails and brown heads to pick out the grackles cleverly disguised as crows. With a sharp eye and knowledge of key field marks, identifying lookalike bird species gets much easier.

References

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Common Grackle Overview.” All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle

Raptor Environmental. “Crow Symbolism.” Raptor Environmental Education Center. https://www.raptoreec.org/the-messenger/crow-symbolism

The Cornell Lab. “American Crow Overview.” All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow