Thursday, June 1, 2017

Raven or Crow??

I'm hoping I can get some help from my birding friends on this one! I'm told that there are no crows in the desert... only ravens. However, that doesn't help, because I can't recall where I was when I took this photo (in my defense, I took it a while ago!).

Below is some information that might help, although perhaps not. The raven/crow silhouette in the photo doesn't give us much detail because of the distance. The one piece of evidence that might help is I remember this guy soaring (vs. consistent flapping), so my vote goes to raven. Regardless, I like the photo, the puffy cloud that appears to be resting on the telephone pole, and the blue-sky day. Humans have this need to classify and categorize things, but at the end of the day, does it really matter?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-exact-difference-between-the-raven-and-crow

Oh, and they also have a very different sound (the caw of a crow vs. a lower pitched "croak" of a raven). I don't remember this guy making any noise, so no help there. But if you are curious to learn more and to listen to caws and croaks, click here.

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world!
Thanks for stopping by!! Caw caw caw....

34 comments:

  1. The Coastal raven is certainly common enough to your area... We have skads of one or the other. They do tend caw. I think they're crows.

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  2. What an amazing skywatch photo. My money would be on the raven not the crow. We don't have ravens in South Africa and lately we've had a lot of crows above and around our garden. The maize lands next door have been harvested and the pigeons and crows and even southern bald ibis are having their fill of the spoils left on the ground. Have a great day. Jo

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  3. A super image of the sky and bird! Very interesting to learn of the subtle differences between crows and ravens, as I would easily mistake them.

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  4. I'm not sure I've ever seen a raven. I've always called the black birds crows.

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  5. Very interesting, but still it is easy to tell the difference.

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  6. I always like seeing Ravens when we are out West. I can't help with this photo, though!

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  7. Stunning blue of the sky framing your black bird. I am not sure of distinguishing ravens and crows either. The common visitors to our gardens we call crows.

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  8. I am no bird expert, but I would say it's a Raven.Either way, its a good picture.

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  9. Very interesting comparison.

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  10. Whatever he is, he make quite the stunning figure. Perfect for skywatch!

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  11. Thanks for sharing. Awesome click.

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  12. Nice flypass,the 2 seems like one of a kind

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  13. Hello, sorry I wish I could help with the id. My guess is the raven. Love the pretty sky! Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  14. I also have a photo or two that could be Ravens, except my bird book tells me there are no Ravens here in MS, so I guess they are large Crows.
    I like your photo, but have no idea if it is a Crow or a Raven, but it looks big enough to be a Raven
    Have a great week-end!

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  15. Fantastic photo. Unfortunately, I can't id the bird. I saw lots of ravens when we lived in Alaska and they were known for their constant croaking.

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  16. Whether raven or crow, it's a great capture!

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  17. I don't know anything about birds, but I sure do love the blue of that sky. I love your header photo too.

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  18. Looks like a raven to me.
    Lovely photo whatever it is

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  19. I´d say it is a raven. From the long bill and long wing "fingers".

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  20. I kind of bulk them together, although I know they are different. I can see the subtle differences on the graph, but not in the air! Ravens have the advantage of a prettier name at least.

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  21. Nice capture, but I have no idea which it is.

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  24. I've always thought those black mean looking birds in my area were Crows - in fact one of our city's football clubs is known as the Adelaide Crows - but having listened to your caws and croaks, I now think that maybe they are ravens !! very interesting.

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  25. No idea, but I like the shot very much. Have a good Sunday.

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  26. I think it's a good shot to get the bird in mid flight. I have no idea what it is though sorry

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  27. Raven. They are the culprits eating the baby tortoises.

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  29. All I know is that Ravens are humongous!
    I also know that this is a great photo...

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  30. I am going to say this looks like a Raven. We have both here in western WA state. The large bill and wings gives this one away as a Raven. The most intelligent of the bird world.

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  31. I believe it is a raven. The raven is the primary bird here in the canyon. There are no crows here, not in town, not in the desert areas around here. While they may be bad for some baby animals, they are great at cleaning up the canyon. I the only dead animal part I have ever found here was coyote paw and part of the leg. Pretty gross, as it looked so much as the same part of the German shepherd I had at the time. Oh,in areas that have both, they say that if you can hear the bird's wings flap as it flies by, then it is a raven.

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