In places where crow species overlap, you may find interspecies mingling between crows. Unlike blackbirds, crows prefer to flock with other crows. Crows will also share information with each other about food sources. Sometimes, these smaller flocks meet up with other crow flocks to form larger groups.įor the most part, crows gather for warmth, protection, and socializing. Some herds of crows are as small as 6-8 birds. While crows are social like blackbirds, their large flocks tend to be numbered in the low hundreds. The key difference between crow and blackbird flocks is size and flock makeup.īlackbirds like grackles live in huge flocks, often with a mix of other types of birds and even European starlings.Ī blackbird flock can have thousands of birds and is called a murmuration. Some Corvids, like ravens, prefer to travel in pairs. Blackbird flocks tend to be significantly larger than crow flocks. Do blackbirds and crows have similar flock sizes?Ĭrows and blackbirds both prefer to stay in large flocks. This is why seeing a young crow away from its nest is a rare sight. Some young crows have been recorded staying in the nest for up to 5 years! While in the nest, parents work together to take care of their young. The sturdy nest of thick twigs and other solid materials will serve as their home for much longer than other bird species. Some species will care for fledglings on the ground for a few days or weeks, but for the most part, young blackbirds are on their own from a few weeks old.Ĭrows never chase their young away from the nest. Often, they are pushed out by their parents. Like other bird species that mate for life, Crows will choose a new mate if their mate is lost.īut it’s their nesting and parenting habits that really set them apart from blackbirds.īlackbird nestlings leave their nests within 14-21 days of hatching. Crows also build their nests out of sturdier materials than blackbirds. Crows mate for life while blackbird pairs mate for a single clutch or breeding season. Do crows and blackbirds have similar mating and nesting habits?Ĭrows have different mating and nesting habits from blackbirds. Blackbirds have an average wingspan of 9-11 inches. Crows have a wingspan of around 30 inches. While crows aren’t the biggest corvid, they are larger than many blackbird species. Because of this, they have larger, stronger bills with a slight curve.Ĭrows have black feathers, but their feathers are flat without the iridescent coloring common in many blackbird species. Crows have black eyes.īoth blackbirds and crows are omnivorous, but crows eat bigger insects and tougher seeds. Blackbirds often have yellow eyes or bright yellow markings around their eyes. What are the physical differences between crows and blackbirds?Ĭrows have more robust and bigger beaks than blackbird species. Icterids are found exclusively in the Americas and should not be confused with European blackbirds, which are thrushes. The Icteridae family is sometimes referred to as Icterids or New World Blackbirds. Blackbird species vary in size, shape, coloration, and behavior. Most blackbird species have predominantly black feathers with bright yellow, red, or orange features. Red-winged blackbirds, cowbirds, and grackles are some of the most common birds in the family Icteridae. This family of birds has over 100 different species. The Tamaulipas Crow ( Corvus imparatus) is found in south Texas and parts of Mexico.īlackbirds are members of the Icteridae family from the Passeriformes order. The fish crow ( Corvus ossifragus) lives in primarily southern states east of Texas. The Northwestern crow ( Corvus caurinus) lives west of the Rocky Mountains. The most common crow with the most extensive range is the American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos).Īmerican crows can be found throughout Canada and the United States. There are four species of crow in North America. Commonly called Corvids, this family has 133 species of birds, including crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, and jays.
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