Australian Crow vs House Crow

Australian Crow

Corvus

How to recognise an Australian crow?

General appearance

Australian crows are large, robust birds, often mistaken for ravens due to their pitch-black feathers which display a slightly glossy sheen. White patches of feathers are rare but can occur. They have solid muscular legs and stout black beaks.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in the Australian crow species making it hard to differentiate between males and females. Size tends not to be a reliable indicator of sex, as both are generally of similar size. However, vocalizations can be a good hint since females generally have higher-pitched calls than males.

Juvenile

Juvenile Australian crows resemble adults in their dark feather coloration yet are slightly smaller in size. Their eyes gradually change color from blue or grey in fledglings to the adult crow's characteristic white as they mature.

Size

16.9 - 21.3 in/9.9 - 28.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Australian crow primarily inhabits woodlands, forests, and suburban areas throughout Australia.

Additional range

Unexpectedly, it’s also found in drier areas like deserts, adapting well to various climates from tropical to temperate.

Range Map

What do Australian crows like to eat?

Natural diet

Australian crows have an omnivorous diet. They consume a variety of foods including insects, small animals, fruits, seeds, and carrion. They are known for their adaptability and can eat almost anything available in their environment, including roadkill or leftovers from other animals.

Bird feeders

While crows are not common visitors to typical bird feeders, they may occasionally be attracted to those offering larger food items. Crows may eat suet, peanuts, or sunflower seeds if easily accessible. Their preference for more substantial food means they are less frequent at feeders designed for smaller birds.

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House Crow

Corvus splendens

Also known as: Indian Crow, Graynecked Crow, Greynecked Crow, Ceylon Crow, Colombo Crow

How to recognise a house crow?

General appearance

The house crow, also known as the Indian, greynecked, or Ceylon crow, has a glossy black color with a greyish neck and breast. It features a strong, stout bill and a tail longer than other crows. Dominatingly omnivorous, it has a versatile diet. It stands out with its distinctive cawing sound.

Male vs female

Males and females of the house crow species look identical with no significant difference in coloration or size, a trait known as sexual monomorphism. Both sexes have similar black and grey coloration. Still, males may be slightly larger and have a slightly thicker bill, which is not easily noticeable.

Juvenile

Juvenile house crows look much like the adults but have slightly duller coloration. Their feathers lack the glossy sheen seen in adults and they have a lighter-grey neck and breast. Juveniles also have brownish eyes, which darken with age, and their bills and legs are not as strongly black as in adults.

Size

15.7 - 16.9 in/8.6 - 13.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

House Crows primarily inhabit human-altered environments like towns, cities, and agricultural areas, particularly in their native regions of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.

Additional range

They have expanded their range, with populations now established in other regions including parts of Africa, the Middle East and Australia. They adapt well to various climates, from tropical to temperate.

Range Map

What do house crows like to eat?

Natural diet

House crows are omnivorous scavengers, primarily feeding on insects, small animals, and carrion. They also consume seeds, fruit, and food waste. Vegetation and grains are part of their diet, and they are often seen foraging in urban environments for scraps.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, house crows eat a variety of foods such as bread, cooked rice, nuts, and pieces of fruit. They are attracted to fatty foods like suet and will also consume leftover pet food if available.

What does a house crow sound like?

The house crow has a range of vocalizations, including harsh caws, squawks, and various other mid-tone and high-pitched calls. Its typical crowing sounds are 'kaa kaa' or 'kaaw kaaw', often repeated several times. No known song is associated with the house crow as it’s not a songbird. As social animals, they often communicate with each other in a cacophonous style, especially when in large groups. These vocalizations are used for a variety of reasons including warning each other of dangers, maintaining flock hierarchy and for interacting with each other.

Call

Audio by Vladimir Yu. Arkhipov

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Call

Audio by Bram Piot

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Australian Crow

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House Crow

Australian Crow

Corvus

General appearance

Australian crows are large, robust birds, often mistaken for ravens due to their pitch-black feathers which display a slightly glossy sheen. White patches of feathers are rare but can occur. They have solid muscular legs and stout black beaks.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in the Australian crow species making it hard to differentiate between males and females. Size tends not to be a reliable indicator of sex, as both are generally of similar size. However, vocalizations can be a good hint since females generally have higher-pitched calls than males.

Juvenile

Juvenile Australian crows resemble adults in their dark feather coloration yet are slightly smaller in size. Their eyes gradually change color from blue or grey in fledglings to the adult crow's characteristic white as they mature.

Size

16.9 - 21.3 in/9.9 - 28.9 oz

There's more to learn about Australian Crow

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House Crow

Corvus splendens

Also known as: Indian Crow, Graynecked Crow, Greynecked Crow, Ceylon Crow, Colombo Crow

General appearance

The house crow, also known as the Indian, greynecked, or Ceylon crow, has a glossy black color with a greyish neck and breast. It features a strong, stout bill and a tail longer than other crows. Dominatingly omnivorous, it has a versatile diet. It stands out with its distinctive cawing sound.

Male vs female

Males and females of the house crow species look identical with no significant difference in coloration or size, a trait known as sexual monomorphism. Both sexes have similar black and grey coloration. Still, males may be slightly larger and have a slightly thicker bill, which is not easily noticeable.

Juvenile

Juvenile house crows look much like the adults but have slightly duller coloration. Their feathers lack the glossy sheen seen in adults and they have a lighter-grey neck and breast. Juveniles also have brownish eyes, which darken with age, and their bills and legs are not as strongly black as in adults.

Size

15.7 - 16.9 in/8.6 - 13.1 oz

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How to tell the Australian Crow from the House Crow

Visual differences

The Australian Crow is larger (17-21 inches, 10-29 ounces) compared to the House Crow (16-17 inches, 9-13 ounces). Both have glossy black plumage, but the House Crow features a distinctive greyish neck and breast, unlike the uniformly black Australian Crow. Australian Crows have bright white eyes, while House Crows have brown eyes. The Australian Crow's black bill is stout, whereas the House Crow's bill and tail are long. Juveniles of both have duller plumage, but the House Crow juveniles have visible lighter grey on the neck and breast.

Key differences and behavior

Australian Crows and House Crows both display intelligence and adaptability; however, they exhibit distinct behavioral characteristics. Australian Crows are often found in woodlands and suburban areas throughout Australia, while House Crows thrive in human-altered environments like cities and agricultural regions, particularly from the Indian Subcontinent to parts of Africa. Both species engage in courtship through vocal and physical displays, yet Australian Crows form lifelong pair bonds, while House Crows might present food during courtship. Australian Crows have a diverse diet, consuming insects, small animals, and carrion, whereas House Crows focus on urban scraps and waste. In parenting, both species are attentive, but Australian Crows' protective nature extends to defending against predators, including humans. Weight and size differ, with Australian Crows being larger (0.6-1.8 lbs, 17-21 in) compared to House Crows (0.5-0.8 lbs, 16-17 in), which reflects in their presence, as House Crows tend to be more social and louder, forming large roosts.