Both have had TV shows. In recent years, only one has had a movie.
[QUOTE=Ludovic]
…crows have names like Carl.
[/QUOTE]
Don’t you mean “Sheryl”?
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi]
For some reason there is a current meme going around asking if X could beat Y if Y was prepared. Where that comes from I have no idea.
[/QUOTE]
Apparently, Batman can beat anyone if he’s prepared for the battle beforehand.
At the risk of providing an over-serious answer this late in the thread:
Close up, the larger size of the raven and “Roman” shape of the raven’s bill are good identifiers. The raven’s wedge-shape tail is also helpful, but not reliable in my experience. The calls are different: ravens croak (or rattle) and crows caw. Ravens also have a shallower wing beat, and soar more often.
In theory, crows are gregarious while ravens are more solitary. However, in recent years here in San Diego County, we’ve been seeing huge flocks of ravens that sure seem gregarious to me.
[QUOTE=Chefguy]
Don’t you mean “Sheryl”?
[/QUOTE]
Thanks! I also forgot Cameron, not to mention Gregory Peck.
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir]
Both have had TV shows. In recent years, only one has had a movie.
[/QUOTE]
I think Raven got a show a few years back… don’t see that one getting made into a movie.
Ravens are a LOT bigger than crows. Of course, it’s notoriously hard to judge the size of birds.
So, what exactly is the question? Is it: what’s the difference between a raven and a crow? Well, you learned the difference. They are obviously very similar closely related species. It’s like asking “what’s the difference between a wolf and a coyote?” And then being confused when you’re told that coyotes are smaller and more solitary and have different vocalizations.
So while there’s a difference between a raven and a crow it isn’t a huge difference.
Paul in Saudi, fantastic book! I finished it last year - about the same time as I named my dog Corbeau Doree (the Golden Raven).
Crows and Ravens vary in size according to location and species. Around here, the location is a good indicator, too - the ravens won’t be around cities, the crows will. Both have many different vocalizations, so it is a good idea to learn them before you go to an area that has both.
The shape of the tail in flight has been a good indicator around here. The American Crow has a flatter end shape, the raven is more wedge-shaped.
Once again, I’ll recommend that book to anyone!
[QUOTE=Lemur866]
Ravens are a LOT bigger than crows. Of course, it’s notoriously hard to judge the size of birds.
So, what exactly is the question? Is it: what’s the difference between a raven and a crow? Well, you learned the difference. They are obviously very similar closely related species. It’s like asking “what’s the difference between a wolf and a coyote?” And then being confused when you’re told that coyotes are smaller and more solitary and have different vocalizations.
…
[/QUOTE]
Don’t forget coyotes are also smarter, cuter and funnier.
Uh … would you believe two out of three?
As far as which is tougher, I have seen two ravens work over a bald eagle over some choice fish guts. The eagle would find something yummy and one of the ravens would peck him in the ass. When he whirlled around to attack, the other raven would steal the goodies.
I also watched two ravens harass an eagle about 200 ft above our runway. They would move in on the soaring eagle until he either lost his concentration or lift and would tumble.
The appeared to be doing this just for the hell of it.
Similarly, I watched a whole flock of crows attacking a seagull over Ballard. It took at least a dozen crows and a whole lot of noise before the seagull gave up and flew off.
The size difference between the raven and eagle (in western Alaska) and the crows and seagull in Seattle was about the same but it only took two ravens to drive and eagle nuts, while it took a whole flock of crows to drive off one seagull.