Carrion Crow vs Large-Billed Crow

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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Large-Billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Also known as: Thick-Billed Crow

How to recognise a large-billed crow?

General appearance

The large-billed crow, as the name suggests, is notable for its relatively large beak. These crows are generally black, even though a gray or silver sheen may appear over the feathers in bright sunlight. Their eyes are often a stark contrast in a striking shade of white or pale blue.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism is less prominent in large-billed crows, making it difficult to distinguish males from females based on physical appearance alone. Both genders share similar coloration and size, although males tend to be slightly larger.

Juvenile

Juvenile large-billed crows resemble adults but tend to have lighter-colored eyes, usually a duller blue or gray. Additionally, juveniles may be identified by the comparatively smaller size of their beaks, which gradually increase as they age.

Size

18.1 - 23.2 in/15.9 - 35.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The large-billed crow is native to South and Southeast Asia. It prefers tropical climates but can also adapt to various environments like forests, grasslands and human settlements.

Additional range

Sometimes this species extends its range north to the Russian Far East and Japan, likely due to increased availability of food resources.

Range Map

What do large-billed crows like to eat?

Natural diet

The large-billed crow is omnivorous, feeding on a diverse array of natural foods. Its diet primarily consists of insects, small mammals, fruits, grains, and carrion. It is also known to consume eggs and nestlings of other birds. It forages in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and urban areas, demonstrating great adaptability in its dietary habits.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the large-billed crow is attracted to a range of offerings. It commonly consumes seeds, nuts, and suet. These birds may also take advantage of kitchen scraps, such as bread and meat, provided at feeders. Their adaptable nature allows them to exploit various food sources found around human habitation.

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Carrion Crow

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Large-Billed Crow

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

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Large-Billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Also known as: Thick-Billed Crow

General appearance

The large-billed crow, as the name suggests, is notable for its relatively large beak. These crows are generally black, even though a gray or silver sheen may appear over the feathers in bright sunlight. Their eyes are often a stark contrast in a striking shade of white or pale blue.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism is less prominent in large-billed crows, making it difficult to distinguish males from females based on physical appearance alone. Both genders share similar coloration and size, although males tend to be slightly larger.

Juvenile

Juvenile large-billed crows resemble adults but tend to have lighter-colored eyes, usually a duller blue or gray. Additionally, juveniles may be identified by the comparatively smaller size of their beaks, which gradually increase as they age.

Size

18.1 - 23.2 in/15.9 - 35.3 oz

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How to tell the Carrion Crow from the Large-Billed Crow

Visual differences

Carrion Crows (18-21 inches) are smaller and have a smaller, strong black beak. Their plumage is pure black and slightly glossy, with dark brown or grey eyes. Large-Billed Crows (18-23 inches) are similar in size but heavier (scarce overlap in weight range), with noticeably larger beaks. Their feathers may have a gray or silver sheen in sunlight, and they possess striking white or pale blue eyes. Both species show minimal sexual dimorphism, but juveniles differ slightly in eye color.

Key differences and behavior

The Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) and Large-Billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) both showcase impressive adaptability, yet exhibit distinct behaviors. Carrion Crows, found in Western Europe and Eastern Asia, are wary of humans and thrive in varied climates, including urban areas and farmlands. Their courtship involves aerial acrobatics and lifelong pair bonds. Large-Billed Crows, native to South and Southeast Asia, display complex vocal courtship and can adapt to tropical and temperate environments. Both species are omnivorous, but Large-Billed Crows have a broader food range, extending from forests to urban settings. Nesting habits are similar, using tree sites and human-made materials. They are social yet opportunistic feeders, utilizing bird feeders for seeds and scraps.