Raven vs Carrion Crow: How to Tell Them Apart

The Raven is bigger than a Buzzard, and is the largest of the crow family. Adults are black all over with a metallic iridescence, sometimes with a red or purplish tinge; the wings are fingered at the tips, and there are longer feathers at the bird's throat. Juveniles are very similar, but their appearance is slightly lighter and more matte.

The Raven is quite flexible in its habitat. While it tends towards mountains and coastal cliffs in the west of the region, it may also be found in areas of human population, upland territories, and woods.

The call is a very loud 'kronk', and this is often sounded in flight.

Adult Carrion Crows are black, and can have a slightly blue iridescence. Bill and legs are black, also. Marginally bigger than Rooks, and somewhat smaller that Ravens. Carrion Crows may breed with Hooded Crows, resulting in offspring with markings from both or either species. Juveniles have a brown tinge to their plumage.

Habitat of the Carrion Crow is varied, including agricultural land, fields, woods, and cliffs by the seaside. Is fairly widespread through England and Wales, but in Scotland, there is a specific line through the Firth of Clyde to the Dornoch Firth, and Carrion Crows usually reside to the south and east of this line. To the north and west of the line is the Hooded Crow's territory, with some interbreeding occurring in proximity to the imaginary divider.

Has an abrasive, low-toned 'kreaa, kreaa, kreaa' call, which it mingles with a plethora of other calls.