Crows account for an entire family of birds, Corvidae, that includes the raven species. That is, all ravens are crows, but crows can be ravens, jays, or magpies. In the United States, most people are referring to the American Crow when they use the term. While this blackbird and the raven have many similarities, there are differences in their appearance, behavior, and habitat.

When birdwatching, it's easy to recognize differences between a raven and a crow to help identify the bird spotted. The easiest thing to note is their size. A raven, such as the North American Corvus corax, is larger than an American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos. Ravens average 25 inches tall (64 cm) with a 4 foot (122 cm) wing span, about the size of a hawk, while crows are around 18 inches (46 cm) tall and their wings span 3 feet (91 cm), similar to a dove. The beak of a crow might look slightly thicker than that of a raven.

Secondly, their particular color can be noted. Both are iridescent black, although a crow's feathers can have lighter markings. A raven's feathers shine with a blue or purple tint when the sun hits them, while an American Crow may look purple with green-tinted wings. Crows can fluff their feathers into a mane to show off, while a raven's individual feathers are larger and pointier. Finally, if you see the bird with its tail spread, a crow's tail curves evenly like a seashell while the tail of a raven meets at a triangular point.

One of their most interesting differences is in their vocalizations. Anyone who has tried to dissuade birds from hanging around by propping up clothing stuffed with straw, knows how annoying and repetitive the caws of a crow sound. A raven's voice varies, however, and it able to imitate other birds and animals. A raven's call might be called hoarser and less refined than a crow's, but it isn't as irritating.

There are few other immediately clear differences between a raven and a crow. Crows are tolerant of noisy, populated areas with people and other animals. This gives them their reputation for harassing the cornfields of farmers, since they like scavenging seeds, fruits, and vegetables in groups. Ravens like privacy in their solitary hunt for insects, fruits, and carrion, so they're more likely to be found in remote woods, meadows, and hills. A raven often lives 30 years, while a crow only has an eight-year average lifespan.