How to Tell Crows and Ravens Apart by Sight and Sound

Crows and ravens are large black birds in the family Corvidae. They’re found on most continents and are often common around towns, cities, and agricultural land. But with more than 40 species worldwide it can sometimes be tricky to identify them to species.

Four species of crows and ravens are widespread across the U.S. and Canada: American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Raven, and Chihuahuan Raven. (Tamaulipas and Sinaloa Crows of Mexico, and Hawaiian Crow, endemic to Hawaii, are not covered here.) The best clue for identifying these four species is usually the voice, but the species differ in some other subtle ways, too. This page will help you recognize the differences among these often confusing birds.

Crows and Ravens: By Sight

Click on each species name to go to its in-depth identification page in our All About Birds species guide.

American Crow

Fish Crow

Common Raven

Chihuahuan Raven

Crows and Ravens: By Sound

One of the best ways to tell crows and ravens apart is by their calls. Here are some expert tips on the sounds they make, and what those sounds mean.

Practice by listening to the sounds of each species:

American Crows have a strong, harsh caw.

Fish Crows make a weaker, more nasal, and often 2-noted caw.

Common Ravens make a deep, throaty croak.

Chihuahuan Ravens make a deep kraaa sound.

Recording credits: American Crow: Mike Anderson, Geoffrey A. Keller, Geoffrey A. Keller; Fish Crow: Geoffrey A. Keller, Oliver H. Hewitt; Common Raven: Mike Anderson, Geoffrey A. Keller; Chihuahuan Raven: William W. H. Gunn, William W. H. Gunn, William W. H. Gunn; all recordings via Macaulay Library.