American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosThis is the common crow over much of the U.S. and Canada. Most easily identified by voice, a familiar “caw,” often repeated. Common in any open habitats, including fields, open woodlands, marshes, and cities, thriving around humans. Very social, usually seen in flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Aggressive, sometimes seen chasing away hawks and owls. Separated from ravens by smaller size, smaller bill, shorter tail, and shorter, broader wings. Compare with Fish Crow, which is extremely similar in appearance, and best separated by voice. Includes the species formerly known as Northwestern Crow.Corvidae bird family
Order Passeriformes · 14 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosThis is the common crow over much of the U.S. and Canada. Most easily identified by voice, a familiar “caw,” often repeated. Common in any open habitats, including fields, open woodlands, marshes, and cities, thriving around humans. Very social, usually seen in flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Aggressive, sometimes seen chasing away hawks and owls. Separated from ravens by smaller size, smaller bill, shorter tail, and shorter, broader wings. Compare with Fish Crow, which is extremely similar in appearance, and best separated by voice. Includes the species formerly known as Northwestern Crow.
Black-billed MagpiePica hudsoniaLarge, conspicuous, black-and-white bird; related to crows and jays. Unmistakably long tail and bold pattern, especially visible in flight. Often spotted along roadsides in open country, fields, and towns. Social and inquisitive, often in small groups foraging on the ground.
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataFamiliar but stunning jay found year-round throughout most of eastern North America. Bright blue above and pale gray below with a fluffy crest. Also look for black necklace and black and white markings on the wings and tail. Pairs or small groups travel through mature deciduous or coniferous woodlands, often revealing their presence with loud, harsh “jay” calls. Frequently visits bird feeders, where it is often aggressive towards other birds.
Canada JayPerisoreus canadensisAdults are gray overall with a white head and dark nape. Juveniles are dark sooty-gray with a white mustache stripe. Some variation across range; Rocky Mountain birds are palest. A bird of northern latitudes and high elevations; found in coniferous forests and clearings. Almost always in pairs or small family groups. Known for friendly, inquisitive behavior. Often seen around campgrounds and roadsides, looking for food handouts. Voice consists of variable soft, husky notes.
Common RavenCorvus coraxLarge, glossy-black bird with a wedge-shaped tail. Larger than a crow with a longer, thicker bill. Distinctive shape in flight, with rather long, swept-back wings and long tail. Note smoother, steadier wingbeats compared with faster, choppier wingbeats of crows. Extensive range throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Found in a wide variety of habitats, including desert, coniferous forest, coastlines, sagebrush, tundra, and grasslands. Often solitary or in pairs, but can gather in small groups. Typical call is a loud, guttural croak, but makes an astonishing variety of other strange noises. Compare with Chihuahuan Raven in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, and with various large, all-dark crows and ravens in Europe and Asia.
Eurasian JackdawColoeus monedulaDistinctive, small social crow with contrasting, silvery-gray neck shawl and staring whitish eyes; juvenile has duller shawl and eyes. Walks confidently, and can be easy to see where not persecuted; associates readily with crows and Rooks. Flocks can number in the hundreds or thousands in the nonbreeding season. Inhabits open and semiopen habitats, from towns and wooded parkland to farmland and sea cliffs; often around stone buildings and chimneys. Nests in cavities. Listen for its distinctive high-pitched “tchaw, tchaw” calls.
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusAn inhabitant of woodland, forest, parkland, and gardens with larger trees, especially oaks. Note stout black bill, thick black mustache, and black-and-white wing pattern with a patch of blue on the shoulder. White rump usually obvious in flight. Varies significantly across wide geographic range. Typically rather shy and difficult to see well, but sometimes feeds out on open ground; often seen flying across roads. Wide vocal repertoire: typical call a dry “scaaaaak,” as well as varied warbling and hooted notes.
Forest RavenCorvus tasmanicusAustralian crows and ravens are challenging to identify; concentrate on call, throat-hackles, behavior, and location. Calls slow and deep. Very heavy bill, with visible throat hackles. Does not flicks wings when calling. Inhabits Tasmania (where the only resident crow/raven) and coastal southeastern Australia, with an isolated subspecies in northern New South Wales, where it should be identified with extreme care.
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxLarge black crow relative with a slender, curved red bill. Found in pairs or groups around cliffs and in adjacent grassy pastures, grasslands, and fields. Flight acrobatic, wheeling and swooping in updrafts. Distinctive if seen well, with bright red bill and legs. Juvenile has a shorter, yellowish bill—compare with Yellow-billed Chough. Often shares its range with other dark corvids, such as crows and jackdaws; in flight, present species’ broad, deeply fingered wings. Gives a variety of calls, including a loud “chaw!”, as well as higher-pitched gull-like mewing calls.
Stresemann's Bush-CrowZavattariornis stresemanniAn unusual small crow-like bird with gray, black, and white plumage. There is bright blue bare skin around the eye, and sometimes a small pink patch is also visible behind the eye. The black-and-gray wings show lots of contrast in flight. Found very locally in dry savanna and cultivated areas in southern Ethiopia, usually in small groups. Reminiscent of Wattled Starling, but much larger, with paler underparts and without a conspicuous white rump patch. The calls are high-pitched and babbler-like, unlike those of typical crows.
Tufted JayCyanocorax dickeyiSpectacular large jay, very local and endemic to mountains of northwest Mexico, where mainly occurs in pine-oak forest. Usually found in small groups, roving high to low through the forest, often in association with flocks of the smaller Steller’s Jay. Unmistakable and striking, with stiff bushy crest (tuft), yellow eyes, black-and-white head pattern, and broad white tail tip. Immature has duller face with shorter crest and blue patch below eyes. Varied calls may attract attention.Tufted JayCyanocorax dickeyiSpectacular large jay, very local and endemic to mountains of northwest Mexico, where mainly occurs in pine-oak forest. Usually found in small groups, roving high to low through the forest, often in association with flocks of the smaller Steller’s Jay. Unmistakable and striking, with stiff bushy crest (tuft), yellow eyes, black-and-white head pattern, and broad white tail tip. Immature has duller face with shorter crest and blue patch below eyes. Varied calls may attract attention.
White-tailed JayCyanocorax mystacalisOne of the most striking and recognizable birds of the dry “Tumbesian Region” that encompasses parts of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. No other bird in range has a similar blue, white, and black pattern. Adults have yellow eyes. Young birds have dark eyes and slightly duller plumage. Noisy gangs of these impressive birds roam through dry forest giving a wide variety of calls, many of which have an odd, metallic quality.
Yellow-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusConspicuous, social, and noisy inhabitant of high mountains. Feeds mostly on insects in summer and berries, seeds, and food waste in winter, scavenging around ski resorts, towns, and monasteries, where it can be very tame. Told from juvenile Red-billed Chough by its shorter, bright yellow bill and shorter wing fingers. Wings do not extend to the tail tip when perched. Gives a strange, squeaky trill very unlike calls of crows and ravens, as well as a high-pitched descending squeak.