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Corvus corax
A hawk-sized black corvid with a heavy bill, shaggy throat, and a wedge-shaped tail in flight.
Much larger and bulkier than a crow, approaching a Red-tailed Hawk in size
Thick, deep bill with bristly feathers over the base and a shaggy 'beard' of throat hackles
Tail tapers to a central point — a wedge or diamond shape in flight
Forests, mountains, coasts, and deserts, and increasingly cities and towns across its wide range.
Soars and glides like a raptor, with rolls and tumbles, and travels in pairs more often than crowds. The call is a deep, hoarse, croaking gronk that carries a long way.
American crows are smaller and slimmer, with an even, fan-shaped tail, a smooth throat, and a flat caw instead of a croak.
Give nest cliffs and nest trees a wide berth, and keep food packed away — ravens learn quickly around people.
Ravens pose no real danger to people, but never handle a sick or dead bird — report unusual die-offs to local wildlife authorities.
Widespread and intelligent, ravens have recolonized parts of their historic range, though they remain sensitive to persecution in places.
Sources are linked below. Field marks vary with age, sex, season, region, light, and viewing distance.
Ardea herodias
North America’s largest heron, a patient hunter with broad wings and a daggerlike bill.
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Turdus migratorius
A familiar thrush that hunts on lawns and sings clear, rising and falling phrases.
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Zenaida macroura
A slender tan dove known for a long pointed tail, soft cooing, and whistling wings.
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