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American crow or common raven?

Read the tail shape, the bill, and the voice before deciding which big black bird flew over.

Scope: North America (American crow and common raven) · Last updated 2026-07-16

An American crow perched on a post in three-quarter view, showing glossy black plumage, a stout bill, and folded wings. — Photo: American Crow by Linda Tanner · CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a crop.

American crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

VS

A common raven photographed in Yellowstone National Park, with black plumage, a heavy bill, and shaggy throat feathers. — Photo: Common raven by Neal Herbert / Yellowstone National Park · Public domain in the United States — U.S. National Park Service work

Common raven

Size [1][2][3]

About pigeon-sized; slim build

Much larger — approaching a Red-tailed Hawk

Tail in flight [1][2][3]

Opens into an even, rounded fan

Tapers to a central point — a wedge

A song sparrow singing from an exposed branch against a pale blue sky. — Field frame · Editorial contextA contextual view from Why birds sing.Image: Song sparrow (53075790765) by Courtney Celley / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain

Bill & throat [1][2][3]

Slimmer, straighter bill; smooth throat

Heavy, curved bill; shaggy throat hackles

A careful ID

Use the whole view

Size is unreliable against open sky. Use tail shape, bill, throat, flight, and voice together, and leave a brief view unresolved. [1][2][3]

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SOURCES & STATUS

Source-checked editorial guide. Last updated 2026-07-16.

U.S. National Park Service — Common Raven ↗
National Audubon Society — How to Tell a Raven From a Crow ↗
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota — Crows & Ravens ↗

A common gull flying against a blue sky with its long wings fully spread. — Field frame · Editorial contextA contextual view from How birds fly.Image: Bird in flight wings spread.jpg by Bengt Nyman · CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a crop.

Flight style [1][2][3]

Often rows with steady wingbeats; can glide or soar

More often soars and glides; may roll

A blue-and-black barred blue jay feather lying on rough ground. — Field frame · Editorial contextA contextual view from Feathers as field sign.Image: Blue jay feather large by NinjaRobotPirate · CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a crop.

Voice [1][2][3]

Often a clear caw, among many other calls

Often a deep croak, among many other calls