Examples of birds that look like crows include the Australian raven, boat-tailed grackle, brewer’s blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, and Carib grackle.
Crows are some of the most common birds in North America and can be easily identified by their black feathers and deep cawing call. While many people think all black birds are crows, there are several other species of birds that share similar features.
Let us take a look at some of the birds that resemble crows, including common grackles, American ravens, and fish crows.
Examples of Birds that Look Like Crows
1. Australian Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus coronoides |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | much of southern and northeastern Australia |
The Australian raven is a member of the crow family that is found in Australia. It is all black with a long beak and legs. The Australian raven is slightly larger than the American crow.
2. Boat-Tailed Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus major |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | coastal saltwater marshes and, in Florida, also on inland waters |
The boat-tailed grackle is a species of bird that is found in the southeastern United States. These birds are black with long, slender tails. They can grow to be about 18 inches in length and have a wingspan of up to 24 inches.
3. Brewer’s Blackbird
| Scientific Name | Euphagus cyanocephalus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern California, New Mexico, and Texas |
Found in open woodlands and wetlands across North America, Brewer’s blackbird is all black with a purple or green sheen. These birds are often found in flocks and can be aggressive towards other birds and animals.
4. Brown-Headed Cowbird
| Scientific Name | Molothrus ater |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The brown-headed cowbird is a small black bird with, as its name suggests, a brown head. These birds are found in open areas across North America and often follow cattle around to eat the insects they disturb.
5. Carib Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus lugubris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | northern South America |
The Carib Grackle is a large blackbird that is found in the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and northern South America. These birds are closely related to the Common Grackle, which is found in North America. Both species have iridescent black feathers and yellow eyes. The male Carib Grackle also has a long, curved bill.
6. Chihuahuan Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus cryptoleucus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southwestern and Midwestern United States and northern Mexico |
The Chihuahuan Raven is a large black bird that is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is one of the most common ravens in North America.
7. Clark’s Nutcracker
| Scientific Name | Nucifraga columbiana |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western United States and southwestern Canada |
Found in western North America, Clark’s nutcracker has a black body with white stripes on the wings. These birds are larger than crows and have longer beaks. They are also known to cache food in the ground.
8. Colombian Mountain Grackle
| Scientific Name | Macroagelaius subalaris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Colombia’s eastern Andes |
The Colombian mountain grackle is a blackbird that is found in the highlands of Colombia. It has a long tail and a sharply curved bill. The male bird has a purple sheen to its feathers, while the female bird is a drabber.
These birds are often seen in flocks feeding on insects or fruit. They will also nest in trees, making their homes in cavities or abandoned nests.
9. Common Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus quiscula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | northeastern British Columbia |
The Common Grackle is a blackbird that is found in North and Central America. These birds are slightly smaller than crows and have a long, slender beaks. They are also known for their loud, harsh calls.
10. Common Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus corax |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western and northern North America |
The common raven is one of the largest species of crow and is found throughout North America. These birds are mostly black with some white feathers on their throats and belly.
11. Currawong
| Scientific Name | Strepera |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern Australia |
The currawong is a type of crow that is found in Australia and New Guinea. It is one of the largest crows in the world and can grow up to 24 inches long. The currawong has black plumage with white stripes on its wings.
12. European Starlings
| Scientific Name | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across the United States, in the Bahamas, Central America, Yucatan Peninsula, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba |
These small blackbirds are found in woodlands and fields across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They were introduced to North America in the 1800s and now have a large population here as well.
One of the most obvious ways to tell a European starling apart from a crow is by its size – crows are much larger. European starlings also have a pointed beak, while crows have a more rounded one.
Another difference is that European starlings often form flocks, while crows are usually seen alone or in pairs.
13. Fan-Tailed Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus rhipidurus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Middle East, North Africa, Arabia, and south to Sudan and Kenya |
The Fan-Tailed Raven is a species of crow that is found in the mountains of central and southern Europe. These birds are black with a white chest and belly. They have a long beak and their tail is fan-shaped.
14. Forest Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus tasmanicus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Tasmania |
The forest Raven is a large black bird that can be found in wooded areas of Australia. They are similar in size to crows and have long, shaggy feathers. Unlike crows, Forest Ravens have white eyes and a white beak with a hooked tip.
15. Greater Antillean Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus niger |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico |
The Greater Antillean Grackle is a large blackbird that is found in the Caribbean. It has a long tail and can grow to be almost two feet in length. The male grackles are particularly shiny with iridescent feathers. These birds are known for their loud calls and interesting mating displays which involve the males shaking their bodies and spreading their tails.
16. Great-Tailed Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus mexicanus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Midwest and West |
These birds are found in the southern United States and Mexico. They have a long tail and glossy black feathers. The males also have a yellow eye ring.
17. Jackdaw
| Scientific Name | Corvus monedula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Western Europe and Central Asia |
The jackdaw is a small crow that is found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They are black with grayish-white feathers on their neck and under their wings. Jackdaws are known to be very curious and intelligent birds.
18. Little Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus mellori |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southeastern Australia |
The Little Raven is found in Australia and has all-black feathers like the crow. It also has a similar call to the crow. The biggest difference between the two birds is the size, with the Little Raven being much smaller than the crow.
19. Magpies
| Scientific Name | Pica Pica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Europe, Asia, and western North America |
The most common type of crow-like bird is the magpie. Magpies are found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. They are black and white birds with long tails. Magpies are known for their ability to mimic human speech.
20. New Zealand Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus antipodum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Zealand, including Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands |
New Zealand Raven: The New Zealand raven is a member of the crow family and is one of the few species of birds that are found only in New Zealand. It has all-black plumage, beak, and legs. The male and female look similar, but the female is usually slightly smaller.
21. Nicaraguan Grackle
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus nicaraguensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Nicaragua and northernmost Costa Rica |
The Nicaraguan grackle is a species of bird that is found in Central America. These birds are all black with long tails and beaks. They can grow to be about 18 inches in length and weigh around 7 ounces.
22. Red-Winged Blackbird
| Scientific Name | Agelaius phoeniceus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Alaska |
The red-winged blackbird is a small blackbird with, you guessed it, red wings. These birds are found in marshes and wetlands across North America and often travel in large flocks. While their calls can sound like a crow’s caw, they are actually quite different.
23. Rook
| Scientific Name | Corvus frugilegus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Great Britain, Ireland and can also be found in the north and central Europe |
The rook is a member of the crow family and is found in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Rooks are slightly larger than crows and have grey-brown feathers with a blackish tint. They also have a bare face with a hooked beak.
24. Rusty Blackbird
| Scientific Name | Euphagus carolinus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The rusty blackbird is a species of blackbird that is found in North America. This bird has black feathers with a rusty hue, which is where it gets its name. It can be found in wooded areas in the eastern and central United States as well as parts of Canada.
25. Thick-Billed Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus crassirostris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia |
The thick-billed raven is a large bird found in the mountains of western North America. It has black feathers and a thick bill. It also has a loud call that sounds like a crow.
26. Velvet-Fronted Grackle
| Scientific Name | Lampropsar tanagrinus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela |
The Velvet-Fronted Grackle is a species of bird that is found in Central and South America. This bird has a black body with iridescent blue and green feathers on its head and neck. The Velvet-Fronted Grackle also has a long, curved beak and can grow to be about 18 cm in length.
27. White-Necked Raven
| Scientific Name | Corvus albicollis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Africa |
Found in the mountains of the western United States, this large bird has black feathers and a white neck. It also has a shaggy appearance with long feathers around its neck.
28. Yellow-Billed Chough
| Scientific Name | Pyrrhocorax graculus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mountains from Spain eastwards through southern Europe and the Alps across Central Asia and the Himalayas to western China |
The yellow-billed chough is a member of the crow family and is one of the most similar-looking birds to the common crow. These birds are found in the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia and have a bright yellow bill.
Conclusion
Birds that look like crows can be found all over the world. They share many of the same physical characteristics, such as black coloring and a long tail. While they may look similar, there are some key differences between these species that make them unique.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.