Members of the family Corvidae (which also includes jays and magpies), crows and ravens are the only North American bird species that are completely black in color. So they are longer, weigh more and have greater wingspan. Photo by Daniel Plumer via Creative Commons. At first glance, the American crow and the common raven may seem identical, but looking closely at different field marks and behaviors can help birders puzzle these species apart. Ravens (seen right here) often travel in pairs, while crows (left) are seen in larger groups. Ravens have pointed wings and wedge-shaped tails but crows hav… Crows tend to fluff their feathers into a mane and when a raven fluffs up its breast it looks ragged.The tails are also prominently different and this can be seen clearly when these birds are flying. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. When you're confronted with a large, black corvid, look for these characteristics to properly identify the bird: When you see a large, black corvid in the field, it can initially be difficult to determine if it is an American crow or a common raven. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. In fact, typically ravens are … Crows grow to be 16 – 21" tall, while ravens reach 21" – 26". While ravens and crows are both black, they differ in size significantly. Both are common throughout Colorado, although there are fewer ravens in the eastern part of the state. Another clue is to listen closely to the birds' calls. By Kevin McGowan. Ravens are larger than crows. Casual observation may not be enough to puzzle out which bird it is, particularly if you are in an a… Crows can be 7 - 1.4 lbs, while ravens reach 1.5 – 4.4 lbs. Ravens are typically much bigger than crows, with a larger body and wingspan. This page will help you recognize the differences among these often confusing birds. When comparing adults to adults, you'll notice that ravens are significantly larger than crows. In a test on New Caledonian crows, crows were placed in an … The bill of a raven is also larger. Also, study the tail as the bird flies overhead. August 3, 2012. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. Crows can reason out cause and effect. Ravens are closer to the size range of a red-tailed hawk. The best clue for identification is usually the voice, but the species differ in some other subtle ways, too. An adult crow's wingspan is from 2 to 3 feet, while a raven's is 3 to 4 feet wide. A crow's tail is shaped like a fan, while the raven's tail appears wedge-shaped or triangular. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open. Crows look skinny, and Ravens are much more beefy. They’re only a little bit bigger than your standard pigeon. Crows are a lot smaller than Ravens. When in flight their necks appear longer than that of a crow. Crows and ravens are large black birds found throughout North America, and they can be hard to tell apart.