Crow or Raven – What’s the Difference?

How do you distinguish a raven, rook, crow, hooded crow, and jackdaw?
Let’s break it down clearly and simply. We’ll share helpful tips so you can recognize each bird easily and confidently.

 A Personal Moment: Why I Wanted to Learn This

Last winter, I was walking through a foggy park near my grandmother’s home. I saw a massive black bird sitting on a fence, staring like it knew something I didn’t. “Is that a crow… or a raven?” I asked myself.
Later, I realized I had no idea how to tell them apart—and that small moment of curiosity inspired me to dig deep into the differences. This guide is what I wish I had that day.

 Same Family, Different Birds

When we think of ravens, we often picture a black bird. But in the corvid family, not all birds are entirely black.

One of the 120+ corvid species is the magpie, which has striking white and blue plumage.

The five most confusing ones to identify are:

• Raven
• Rook
• Crow (Carrion Crow)
• Hooded Crow
• Jackdaw

All of them are common in Europe and belong to the genus “ravens and crows.”

Main Differences at a Glance

• Here’s what we’ll cover to tell these birds apart:
• Beak
• Plumage
• Size
• Call (Reputation)
• Special Features

 1. Beak – The Easiest Clue

Corvids have very distinct beak shapes. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Jackdaw
Beak: Short and pointed

Rook

Beak: Long, pointed, slightly curved

Special tip: Base of the beak is light grey

📸 Rook – Photo: Gallinago_media/Shutterstock

Carrion Crow

Beak: Thick, curved at the front

Base: Uniformly black

Hooded Crow

Beak: Thick, curved at the front

Raven

Beak: Large and strongly curved downward

Myth Buster:

It’s often claimed that corvids have yellow beaks—not true.
That’s likely confusion with blackbirds (a thrush), or other birds like:

Alpine chough (yellow beak)

Alpine crow (red beak)

 2. Size – Who’s the Biggest?

Yes, these birds differ significantly in size:

• Bird Size
• Raven Up to 67 cm
• Hooded Crow Up to 52 cm
• Carrion Crow Up to 47 cm
• Rook Up to 46 cm
• Jackdaw Only up to 39 cm

 Tip: It’s tricky to estimate size from a distance—regular observation really helps.

 3. Call – What Do They Sound Like?

The reputation (call) of these birds can be a helpful way to identify them.

Jackdaw

Sounds like: kjak, schack, kjöck, kjarr, kji

Rook & Crow

• Hoarse voice
• R often barely audible
• Common sounds: kraa, korr, krrr

Raven & Hooded Crow

• Louder: kraa, arrr
• Deeper tone compared to smaller corvids

 

 5. Systematics – Where They Belong

Bird	Size	Beak	Plumage	Reputation	Special Feature
Jackdaw	Up to 39 cm	Short	Dark brown, black	kjak, schack, kjöck, kjarr, kji	Round head
Rook	Up to 46 cm	Long, pointed, curved	Black, slightly reddish	kraa, korr, krrr (hoarse)	Light grey beak base
Carrion Crow	Up to 47 cm	Thick, curved	Black, slightly bluish	kraa, korr, krrr (often 3x)	Dark beak base
Hooded Crow	Up to 52 cm	Thick, curved	Black and grey	kraa, arrr	Grey feathers look like a coat
Raven	Up to 67 cm	Large, curved downward	Black with green/violet	kraa, arrr	Long feathers at the throat

To better understand their classification:

Class: Birds

Order: Passerines

Suborder: Songbirds

Family: Corvids

Genus: Ravens and Crows

Examples: Crow, Raven, Rook, Hooded Crow, Jackdaw

Conclusion

So next time you see a black bird and wonder, “Crow or raven?”—you’ll have all the clues you need.

Remember:

• Look at the beak
• Estimate the size
• Listen to the call
• Notice special traits like plumage or beak color
• With a little practice, you’ll be spotting jackdaws, rooks, and ravens like a pro