Do you know that ravens and crows are affiliated to the same corvids’ family? These blackbirds are identical in some ways, but many different traits like voice make them different. Crows and ravens are seen in North America. They are among the very intelligent animals in the world.
It's been asked by many people if Ravens and Crows are the same or not. They both look somewhat the same and if a person standing at some distance sees one of the any then he might not point the difference and mistake in identifying. So, what are the differences between the two, and how to identify which is which? Hopefully, after reading this article you won't make the identification mistake. Here are the points of difference between Raven and Crow.
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| Ravens move around in pairs. | Crows live in larger groups. |
| Raven's middle feathers are longer, and the shape of the tail is wedged shaped when open. | Crow's tail feathers are of the same length and it opens like a rounded fan. |
| Raven's croak. | Crows caw and purr. |
| Ravens soar in flying. | Crows do more flapping. |
| Both birds possess bristles at the base of the beak. Raven’s beak is longer. Raven’s throat feathers are furry and long-haired. | - |
| Ravens have a bigger bill; the tail shape is different and so is the flight pattern. | - |
| Ravens are as enormous as red-tailed Hawks. | Crow's size is like the size of a pigeon. |
| Ravens are black in color. | Crows are also black in color. |
| Raven has a wingspan of 4 ft and measures 24-27 inches from head to tail. | Crows wingspan is 2.5 ft and length is 17 inches long. |
| Ravens weigh 40 oz. | The crows are 20 oz. |
| Raven’s feathers are lustrous and rainbow colors of greens, blues as well a purple. | Crow's feathers are simmering purple and blue. Comparatively, Crow's sheen is less. |
| Raven’s are not common in urban regions. | Crows are common in habitats that are open and populated. |
| Ravens fly with a longer neck and Ravens possess pointed wings. | Crows have blunt wingtips. |
| Raven's wing at times sounds as swish. | Crows wing makes no sound. |
| Ravens soar higher than crows. | Crows soar comparatively lower than Ravens. |
| Ravens can do a somersault in flight and fly upside down. | Crows can not. |
Raven vs Crow: Which One is Stronger?
Ravens and crows do not get along. They are at loggerheads. Crows do not take on ravens on a one-to-one basis. The crow group gang up cawing aloud to attack a single raven. This is called mobbing by social crows. Ravens are solitary. The grudge is there all through the year, but it becomes more prominent during the breeding season beginning March till May. This happens because of changing hormone levels. 97% of the fight is instigated by crows. The message to Raven is to stay away from their territory. Crows protect their nest and ravens approach them for a tasty meal. Competition for resources is the cause for the fight after the breeding season.
Ravens respond to mobbing and do a barrel roll and try to away least the mob hurt it. A sitting raven and crows do not get close the raven is at ease and continues with his life. Raven may get annoyed but does what it wants peacefully.
Which is Smarter Crow or Raven?
Even though raven vs crow is compared to smartness both birds are intelligent, but Raven excels in this ability as they have a larger brain. Ravens make seven varying calls and can mimic the calls of geese, crows, and jays. Raven’s flying performance attracts mates. Crows can make use of tools. Crows depend on the flock to keep away predators, get food, and solve problems. Ravens collect food for future use. They are careful in doing this from another raven’s as well.
Crows dwell in rural and urban areas and are a common sight. Generally public find corvids as causing damage, clamorous, aggressive, dirty, and ugly. There is a section of people who appreciate their cleverness, ability to solve problems and wisdom.
What do Crows and Raven Symbolize?
Human enchantment with ravens and crows has existed through the ages. Humans and these birds have lived in proximity for centuries. These birds have found a place in mythology has cultural and religious myths attached to them in several cultures. A prehistoric drawing discovered in a cave in France shows a crow-headed man maybe epitomizing the soul of a bad character. Both crows and ravens stand for bad omen and bad news. In some counties, they are associated with a divine message.
In Celtic fantasy crow and raven symbolize Goddess Morrigan. This goddess of animosity, war, and supremacy. The goddess flies above fighting soldiers directing the course of the war. Crows and ravens escort the goddess. Thus, whenever the fleet of crows and ravens are seen in numbers the public thinks the goddess is watching them.
In Welsh fantasy, the mythological king of Britain Bran is depicted by crows and ravens. The countrymen associate the birds as protective spirits. In Cornish tales, crows and ravens are identified as bad omens and creatures from the other birds. In Norse fantasy Odin, the father of Gods possessed a couple of ravens. These birds traveled around the earth and brought important information to God. Thus, the birds are the divine messenger. Sweden and Denmark's population see these birds as malicious spirits. Swedes assume that those dying unnatural death become a ghost and these birds represent it. Danish assume them as outcast souls.
The Aboriginal fantasy of Australia looks at these birds with positivity. They think highly of them. They are thought of as forefathers' beings. The good things these birds did were to bring fire on the earth and rescuing mankind from calamitous forces. Mesopotamian fantasy portraits crow as playing an important role in the creation of humanity. They discovered land for them. Thus, birds are held in high esteem. Ancient Greece and Rome fantasy associates it with Apollo the God of Divination and healing. They believe that Apollo altered the hue of the crow and raven’s feather from white to black. These birds were important for forecaster priests. They attached meaning to the direction of flight of the birds.
Hinduism fantasy label it as ancestral being and offer food to them when they do a ritual of paying homage to ancestors. Hindus assume them as good and bad omen. Both birds have excellent memories which they apply in daily life. In Buddhism crow is considered sacred. The Tibetan branch proclaims the bird as bringing righteousness on Earth.
Japanese and Korean fantasy connect these birds to Sun. They symbolize godly mediation in human happenings. Even in Chinese fantasy crow represent the God Sun. Chinese believe there are 10 sun crows and only one rise in the sky at a time. Once all of them took a combined flight and earth ruin was evident. God ordered one archer to shoot nine of them. Thus, the Chinese believe in the life-giving Sun but must be beware not to take its wrath. God must control nature.
Native USA fantasy looks upon these birds as tricksters and catalysts to change. The birds are also called stealers, they steal fire, souls, and light. People have totem figures of the birds on their arms. If we look at Islam fantasy the killing of these birds is not sinful. The bible text describes it as unclean. Moreover, these birds have directed humans to understand death. Traditions connect these birds to occultism as well as witchcraft.
Thus, crows and ravens around the world have been associated with good and bad.
