JasRavens or Crows?
September 12th 2006 11:25
Elsie from Woy Woy writes:
"Dear All Knowing Geek,
Here's a question to really stuff you up. My husband and I were arguing the other day about the big black bird sitting in our tree out back. I said it was a Raven - Dale said it was a Crow. What's the difference and what do you think it was? I've attached a pic."
First things first Elsie: get a hobby! Basket Weaving is probably a good start though I can really see you hitting the pottery wheel with reckless abandon!
I shall answer your question though so you can settle your debate with your significant other and end the undoubted copulatory drought.
There are six members of this family found in Australia, five native breeding species and one infrequent self-introduction. Three are called crows and three ravens, although there is really little difference. Most Australian species are similar in size and colouration, and can be difficult to tell apart. In some cases, identification is aided by the separate ranges of different species, but differences in plumage, habits and calls offer good clues for distinguishing them. The bases of the feathers of the crows are white, while those of the ravens are grey, although this characteristic is perhaps only of benefit if birds are held in the hand or if discarded feathers are found.
The Australian Raven, Corvus coronoides, is 52 cm. The feathers on the throat (hackles) are longer than in other species, and a bird tends to extend these when calling, while holding its head and body in a horizontal position. The territorial call is a slow, rather high "ah-ah-ah-aaaah" with the last note drawn out. Australian Ravens are usually seen in pairs. Another aid to identification of this species is the absence of wing-flicking while calling.
The Forest Raven, C. tasmanicus, is the about same size as the Australian Raven, but has a larger bill and shorter tail. The call is a deep "kor-kor-kor-korrrr", with the last note drawn out. Adult Forest Ravens tend to keep to solitary pairs and stay in the same region for much of the year, while younger birds form nomadic flocks.
The Little Raven, C. mellori, is slightly smaller than the two other ravens, being 50 cm in length. Its medium length throat hackles are not extended during calling. This species is quite sociable, sometimes forming large flocks. Its call is a much quicker "kar-kar-kar", and the wings are flicked with each note.
The call of the Torresian Crow, C. orru, is "uk-uk-uk-uk". Although not flicking its wings when calling, it repeatedly shuffles them after landing. The hackles are raised when calling. It is roughly the same size as the Little Raven.
The Little Crow, C. bennetti, is about 48 cm in length. It has a bill shorter than the head and gives a nasal "nark-nark-nark" call. Like the Australian Raven, it does not flick its wings when calling.
These five species are black with white eyes in adults. Young birds have brown eyes. The House Crow, C. splendens, is an occasional straggler from south-east Asia to Australia's southwest and southeast. It is mostly black with a broad grey-brown band around the neck and breast, and a brown eye in adults. It is the smallest of the six species (43 cm).
Young birds resemble the adults in all species, but have dark eyes, shorter throat hackles and often the presence of a pink, fleshy gape
So there it is - it seems you have a Raven in your yard and all this time he's been thinking to himself: "What are these two dickheads staring at?!"
Until next time - go pelt a vegan with cricket balls made of tofu...it's fun and vegans are easy to outrun.
- Information on Ravens and Crows taken from: www.mdavid.com.au
"Dear All Knowing Geek,
Here's a question to really stuff you up. My husband and I were arguing the other day about the big black bird sitting in our tree out back. I said it was a Raven - Dale said it was a Crow. What's the difference and what do you think it was? I've attached a pic."
First things first Elsie: get a hobby! Basket Weaving is probably a good start though I can really see you hitting the pottery wheel with reckless abandon!
I shall answer your question though so you can settle your debate with your significant other and end the undoubted copulatory drought.
There are six members of this family found in Australia, five native breeding species and one infrequent self-introduction. Three are called crows and three ravens, although there is really little difference. Most Australian species are similar in size and colouration, and can be difficult to tell apart. In some cases, identification is aided by the separate ranges of different species, but differences in plumage, habits and calls offer good clues for distinguishing them. The bases of the feathers of the crows are white, while those of the ravens are grey, although this characteristic is perhaps only of benefit if birds are held in the hand or if discarded feathers are found.
The Australian Raven, Corvus coronoides, is 52 cm. The feathers on the throat (hackles) are longer than in other species, and a bird tends to extend these when calling, while holding its head and body in a horizontal position. The territorial call is a slow, rather high "ah-ah-ah-aaaah" with the last note drawn out. Australian Ravens are usually seen in pairs. Another aid to identification of this species is the absence of wing-flicking while calling.
The Forest Raven, C. tasmanicus, is the about same size as the Australian Raven, but has a larger bill and shorter tail. The call is a deep "kor-kor-kor-korrrr", with the last note drawn out. Adult Forest Ravens tend to keep to solitary pairs and stay in the same region for much of the year, while younger birds form nomadic flocks.
The Little Raven, C. mellori, is slightly smaller than the two other ravens, being 50 cm in length. Its medium length throat hackles are not extended during calling. This species is quite sociable, sometimes forming large flocks. Its call is a much quicker "kar-kar-kar", and the wings are flicked with each note.
The call of the Torresian Crow, C. orru, is "uk-uk-uk-uk". Although not flicking its wings when calling, it repeatedly shuffles them after landing. The hackles are raised when calling. It is roughly the same size as the Little Raven.
The Little Crow, C. bennetti, is about 48 cm in length. It has a bill shorter than the head and gives a nasal "nark-nark-nark" call. Like the Australian Raven, it does not flick its wings when calling.
These five species are black with white eyes in adults. Young birds have brown eyes. The House Crow, C. splendens, is an occasional straggler from south-east Asia to Australia's southwest and southeast. It is mostly black with a broad grey-brown band around the neck and breast, and a brown eye in adults. It is the smallest of the six species (43 cm).
Young birds resemble the adults in all species, but have dark eyes, shorter throat hackles and often the presence of a pink, fleshy gape
So there it is - it seems you have a Raven in your yard and all this time he's been thinking to himself: "What are these two dickheads staring at?!"
Until next time - go pelt a vegan with cricket balls made of tofu...it's fun and vegans are easy to outrun.
- Information on Ravens and Crows taken from: www.mdavid.com.au
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