Collared Crow vs Carrion Crow

Collared Crow

Corvus torquatus

Also known as: Ring-Necked Crow, White-Collared Crow

How to recognise a collared crow?

General appearance

The Collared Crow is a large bird with a body length of about 50cm. Its body is predominantly black with striking white plumage found on its neck (forming a 'collar'), chest, and abdomen regions. It also displays a white wing bar that is visible when the wings are folded. This crow exhibits a sleek black beak, robust legs and a relatively flat head.

Male vs female

Both male and female Collared Crows look alike, exhibiting similar black and white coloration and sizes. They are monomorphic which means there is no visible distinction between males and females. Males might be slightly larger than females, but this difference is barely noticeable.

Juvenile

Juvenile Collared Crows have coloration similar to that of adults, although their colors may be slightly duller, especially the white part. The plumage becomes brighter and sleek as they grow into adults. Another noticeable feature in juveniles is a less defined 'collar' and the beak may be slightly lighter in color.

Size

19.7 - 21.7 in/12.2 - 18.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Collared Crow is native to East Asia, primarily found in China and Vietnam. It prefers warm, subtropical climates.

Additional range

While they typically inhabit farmland and open woodland, these crows can also be found in urban environments and coastal regions.

Range Map

What do collared crows like to eat?

Natural diet

The collared crow primarily feeds on insects, small mammals, and various invertebrates found in its natural habitat. It also consumes seeds, fruits, and agricultural crops, making it an opportunistic feeder. Additionally, this bird is known to scavenge, taking advantage of carrion and human food waste when available.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the collared crow often consumes a variety of seeds and nuts. It is particularly attracted to sunflower seeds and peanuts. Occasionally, it may consume suet and other high-energy foods intended for smaller bird species. The crow's adaptability allows it to thrive in areas where bird feeders are common.

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Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

How to recognise a carrion crow?

General appearance

The Carrion Crow is roughly 46-51 cm long with a wingspan of 93–104 cm. It has a pure black plumage, slightly glossy, with a strong, black bill, and black legs. Its eyes are dark brown or grey. It flies with a slow heavy flapping, and has a distinct 'cash' sound.

Male vs female

Males are slightly larger than females, but otherwise, the sexes are very similar in appearance. Generally, females may have a slightly lighter build, but it is challenging to distinguish between the two based solely on physical appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Carrion Crows are remarkably similar to adults, still black but slightly less glossy. Their eyes initially are blue, gradually changing to brown in the first year. They lack the ruffled plumage around the neck seen in adults.

Size

18.9 - 20.9 in/14.0 - 21.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Carrion crows typically inhabit open areas, farmlands, coastlines, woodlands and urban areas across Western Europe and Eastern Asia.

Additional range

They thrive in a range of climates, from chilly European winters to warm, humid Asian summers. Unexpectedly, they can also adapt to highly urbanized areas, including city centres.

Range Map

What do carrion crows like to eat?

Natural diet

Carrion crows have an omnivorous diet. They consume carrion, small mammals, birds' eggs, young birds, insects, and other invertebrates. They are also known to eat amphibians, reptiles, and some plant matter like seeds, fruits, and grains. Their opportunistic feeding habits allow them to adapt to various environments.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, carrion crows are attracted to various types of food typically provided for other birds. They often consume peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet, and occasionally leftover scraps of food. Their adaptable nature makes them common visitors to bird feeders, where they capitalize on the readily available food sources.

What does a carrion crow sound like?

The carrion crow's vocalizations are loud and usually high-pitched, often characterized as harsh sounds or caws. Its primary call is a hard, sharp "kraa" or "kraa-kraa" that it repeats several times. Some describe its typical calls as raucous, varied, and repetitive. Though lacking a melodic song, the crow can mimic sounds from its environment including other birds and human-made noises. These behaviors, complemented by its complex communicative system, make its vocal repertoire quite diverse.

Call

Audio by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Collared Crow

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Carrion Crow

Collared Crow

Corvus torquatus

Also known as: Ring-Necked Crow, White-Collared Crow

General appearance

The Collared Crow is a large bird with a body length of about 50cm. Its body is predominantly black with striking white plumage found on its neck (forming a 'collar'), chest, and abdomen regions. It also displays a white wing bar that is visible when the wings are folded. This crow exhibits a sleek black beak, robust legs and a relatively flat head.

Male vs female

Both male and female Collared Crows look alike, exhibiting similar black and white coloration and sizes. They are monomorphic which means there is no visible distinction between males and females. Males might be slightly larger than females, but this difference is barely noticeable.

Juvenile

Juvenile Collared Crows have coloration similar to that of adults, although their colors may be slightly duller, especially the white part. The plumage becomes brighter and sleek as they grow into adults. Another noticeable feature in juveniles is a less defined 'collar' and the beak may be slightly lighter in color.

Size

19.7 - 21.7 in/12.2 - 18.1 oz

There's more to learn about Collared Crow

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Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

General appearance

The Carrion Crow is roughly 46-51 cm long with a wingspan of 93–104 cm. It has a pure black plumage, slightly glossy, with a strong, black bill, and black legs. Its eyes are dark brown or grey. It flies with a slow heavy flapping, and has a distinct 'cash' sound.

Male vs female

Males are slightly larger than females, but otherwise, the sexes are very similar in appearance. Generally, females may have a slightly lighter build, but it is challenging to distinguish between the two based solely on physical appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Carrion Crows are remarkably similar to adults, still black but slightly less glossy. Their eyes initially are blue, gradually changing to brown in the first year. They lack the ruffled plumage around the neck seen in adults.

Size

18.9 - 20.9 in/14.0 - 21.2 oz

There's more to learn about Carrion Crow

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How to tell the Collared Crow from the Carrion Crow

Visual differences

The Collared Crow is larger (20-22 inches) and features distinctive white plumage on its neck, chest, and abdomen, with a white wing bar. It has a sleek, black beak and relatively flat head. In contrast, the Carrion Crow is slightly smaller (18-20 inches), with entirely glossy black plumage, strong black bill, and dark brown or grey eyes. Its wingspan is also broader. Both species exhibit minor sexual dimorphism, with males slightly larger than females, but overall differences rely on distinguishing coloration and size.

Key differences and behavior

The Collared Crow (Corvus torquatus) and Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) display distinct behavioral differences. Collared Crows are monogamous, maintaining year-round territories in East Asia's subtropical climates, whereas Carrion Crows, found across Europe and Asia, adapt to varied climates, including urban settings. Both species engage in elaborate courtship and cooperative breeding, but Collared Crows prefer solitary, comfortable nest sites, while Carrion Crows are more communal, sometimes using bones for nest building. In diet, both are omnivorous and opportunistic, but Collared Crows focus more on insects and small vertebrates, while Carrion Crows extensively scavenge carrion. Despite these distinctions, both thrive near human habitats, showcasing their adaptability across diverse environments.