what's the difference between a raven and a crow

Ravens and crows are closely related, but they differ in size, shape, sound, and behavior.

Size and overall look

• Ravens are much larger, roughly hawk-sized, with bodies around 24–27 inches long and wingspans around 3.5–4 feet.

• Crows are closer to pigeon or small-chicken size, about 17 inches long with wingspans around 2.5 feet.

• Ravens often look bulkier with a heavier, more massive bill and shaggy feathers around the throat and neck, while crows look sleeker with a slimmer bill and smoother throat feathers.

Tail and wings in flight

• Raven tails are wedge- or diamond-shaped in flight because the central tail feathers are longer than the others.

• Crow tails appear fan-shaped; the tail feathers are more even in length, so the end looks straight or gently rounded.

• Ravens have longer, more pointed wings with more obvious “fingered” tips, and their wingbeats can make a noticeable “swish” sound, while crow wings look shorter and more rounded and are usually quieter.

Calls and sounds

• Ravens make a deep, croaking call often described as “gronk-gronk” or a low, resonant croak.

• Crows give the classic higher-pitched “caw-caw,” plus a wide variety of clicks, rattles, and bell-like notes.

• Overall, raven voices sound deeper and rougher, while crow voices are sharper and more nasal.

Behavior and flight style

• Ravens often soar and glide like hawks, sometimes doing acrobatics such as somersaults or even flying briefly upside down.

• Crows flap more consistently and don’t usually soar for long; if you see a “crow” soaring high for more than a few seconds, it’s likely a raven.

• On the ground, crows usually walk, while ravens tend to combine walking with hopping, which can make them look a bit more playful or awkward.

Social life and habitat

• Crows are very social; they often gather in large groups (the classic “murder of crows”), especially around towns, fields, and suburbs.

• Ravens are more often seen in pairs or small family groups and are commonly associated with wilder, more open or mountainous areas, though this varies by region.

• Both are highly intelligent corvids, capable of complex problem-solving and remembering people, but crows are especially famous for recognizing individual human faces, while ravens are known for elaborate problem-solving and playful behavior.

Quick visual cheat-sheet (HTML table)

Below is an HTML table version since you requested tables as HTML:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Feature</th>
      <th>Raven</th>
      <th>Crow</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Size</td>
      <td>Hawk-sized, about 24–27 in long, 3.5–4 ft wingspan [web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Pigeon/chicken-sized, about 17 in long, ~2.5 ft wingspan [web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Bill & throat</td>
      <td>Thick, heavy bill; shaggy throat feathers [web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Slimmer bill; smoother throat [web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Tail shape in flight</td>
      <td>Wedge- or diamond-shaped tail [web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Fan-shaped tail, more even edge [web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Wings & flight</td>
      <td>Long, pointed wings; often soars and glides, can be acrobatic [web:3]</td>
      <td>Shorter, more rounded wings; steady flapping, rarely soars long [web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Typical call</td>
      <td>Deep croak or “gronk” [web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Higher “caw,” plus varied clicks and rattles [web:3][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Social behavior</td>
      <td>Often in pairs or small groups [web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Often in large flocks (“murders”) [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Typical habitat</td>
      <td>More common in wilder, open, or mountainous areas (varies by region) [web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Common in towns, suburbs, farms, and cities [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

A quick story-style way to remember

Imagine you’re walking on the edge of a forest and see a big black bird soaring overhead, tail like a wedge and giving a low croak—think “lone raven rider.” Later, in a parking lot, a noisy group of smaller black birds fan their tails, strut around, and shout “caw!” at one another—those are your classic city crows.

TL;DR: Ravens are bigger, bulkier, wedge-tailed, and croaky; crows are smaller, fan-tailed, and “caw”-y, usually hanging out in bigger, noisier groups.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.