Blackbird Vs Crow – Differences, Similarities And Best Of Each

There are many different types of birds in the world, and each one has its unique features and habits. In this blog post, we will be comparing the blackbird and crow.

Both of these birds are common in North America, but they have some key differences in their behavior, diet, and habitat. Keep reading to learn more about these fascinating creatures! We will also provide some tips on how to identify the blackbird vs crow. So let’s get started!

Overview

Differences between Blackbird vs Crow

Physical Differences

Blackbirds are much smaller than crows, with the average mass of a European blackbird being only 102g compared to 400g for an American crow.

You’ll probably find the blackbird more appealing to the eye since it has a variety of colors ranging from yellow/orange beaks to a bright yellow eye-ring (males only).

The American crow is a bird that consists of black feathers (though if you like shiny things, you might like the fact that crow feathers sometimes give off a glossy look to them). And if you ever see a young crow’s brown feathers and think hmm perhaps not all crows are 100% black, don’t worry, they’ll turn black after their first molt.

Distribution and Habitat Differences

Crows prefer large open grasslands with nearby trees, where they can forage for food, breed, and roost.

On the other hand, Blackbirds tend to prefer a more urban environment than a rural one due to an abundance of food made by people. This doesn’t mean blackbirds don’t inhabit farmlands as well though, since they mainly build their nests in dense vegetation.

Behavior Differences

Crows are cooperative breeders, meaning some of the offspring won’t leave their nests and start their own families. Instead, they’ll remain at the nest to raise other young (known as helpers) that aren’t their own and defend the territory against predators.

Crows also engage in winter brooding, where they will gather in the hundreds or thousands in an area with large trees in the afternoon and all move to their permanent brooding site at night.

American crows, in particular, can also engage in a behavior called anting, which is when they stand on anthills and allow ants to climb onto them. They then rub the ants all over their feathers so that the crows can both ward off parasites, and get drunk from the formic acid released by the ants!

Crows are considered smart animals through their abilities to hunt and avoid capture.

Blackbirds, on the other hand, tend to migrate much further distances than crows, in part due to their need to escape disturbances like humans or dogs.

Blackbirds are monogamous and, although the female primarily builds the nest, both male and female will help raise the young.

Diet

Crows will eat almost anything smaller than them. This includes insects (plus their larvae), worms, fruits, grains, nuts, and even small rabbits! They sometimes also snatch eggs of smaller birds from their nests.

Blackbirds are a bit pickier in that they eat mostly fruits and grains.

Similarities between Blackbird vs Crow

If you’ve looked carefully at all the differences mentioned earlier, you can probably pick out a few things that are common to both blackbirds and crows. Other than their behavior, blackbirds and crows share similarities in almost every other category.

Blackbirds and crows are both, surprise surprise, mostly black in appearance. Other than their size difference and the minuscule colors found on blackbirds, it is very difficult to tell the two apart looking at them individually.

Both birds also enjoy similar habitats since both prefer using trees to build nests and forage food.

And finally, though crows have a larger palate than blackbirds, both enjoy the taste of fruits and grains. Also, because they both tend to inhabit urban areas, blackbirds and crows eat human-made food.

Are they the Same Bird?

Despite similar appearances, blackbirds and crows are not the same. Though both belong in the Passerine order, blackbirds and crows belong to the Turdidae and Corvidae families respectively.

Interesting Facts About Blackbirds

• Iceland is the only European country where blackbirds don’t breed, though some have been observed to migrate there.
• Blackbirds usually begin singing at the end of January or the beginning of February.
• Their singing usually lasts until the summer, during which they’ll mainly stop singing by mid-July.
• Blackbirds love to sing after the rain has stopped.
• Blackbirds were introduced to the US in the 19^th century but failed to be sustained, hence they were seen primarily in Europe and the Oceania region, where they were successfully introduced.
• Blackbird calls and sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3yAR4_xr9g
• Read more about the blackbird symbolism and the red-winged blackbird meaning
• We have compared the blackbird to more birds: Grackle vs Blackbird – What Are the Differences?

Interesting Facts About Crows

• Crows are highly adaptable in that they will use methods such as using bread as bait to catch fish or secretly follow animals to steal their prey.
• Some crows can fashion their tools from branches or twigs to catch insects from small crevices.
• Crows are known to hold “funerals” for recently deceased individuals. They may keep a vigil for the fallen bird for several days.
• Crows can remember faces and even relay that information to other fellow crows.
• Crows can lead “double lives”, where they split their time between their families and a flock. Hence, although crows generally have monogamous relationships, a female crow’s offspring could’ve been fathered by several male crows.
• Crow calls and sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4E9enGqRc
• We compared to crow also to: Grackle Vs Crow and Owl vs Crow
• Read also about the crow: crow symbolism, finding a dead crow, Crows in Mythology, Crow Feather Meaning.

Field Identification Tips

Blackbird

Male blackbirds are unmistakable, for their yellow bill and yellow ring around the eye are easily identifiable. Females are a dark brown color, with streaking on the chest and throat. They can be easily found in parks, gardens, and grasslands, often listening for earthworms or feeding on insects and berries.

Crow

Crows are much larger than blackbirds, with long legs and thick necks. Unlike blackbirds, crows are black all the way (including the legs and bill) except when they molt, in which their old feathers can appear brown. Crows are more commonly found in open fields, woodlands, and forests, but may also be seen in urban areas such as lawns and parking lots.

Final Verdict

Blackbirds and crows have adapted more and more to urban environments. If you happen to live in Europe or Australia, be sure to leave some apples or berries in your garden and you’ll surely be able to see for yourself!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main physical difference between a blackbird and a crow?

Blackbirds are significantly smaller, averaging 102g compared to crows at 400g. Blackbirds have yellow eye-rings and beaks (males), while crows are entirely black with arched beaks and larger, more robust bodies overall.

How can you identify a male blackbird versus a female blackbird?

Male blackbirds are unmistakable with bright yellow beaks and yellow eye-rings against jet-black plumage. Females are dark brown with streaking on their chest and throat, making them noticeably different in appearance from males.

Do blackbirds and crows belong to the same bird family?

No. Despite similar appearances, blackbirds belong to the Turdidae family while crows belong to the Corvidae family. Both are in the Passerine order but are distinctly different taxonomically.

What habitats do crows prefer compared to blackbirds?

Crows prefer large open grasslands with nearby trees for roosting and foraging. Blackbirds favor more urban environments and dense vegetation, often building nests in gardens and farmlands rather than open landscapes.

How do blackbird and crow migration patterns differ?

Blackbirds migrate 80-1300 kilometers depending on species, often fleeing human disturbance. American crows migrate approximately 500 kilometers on average, making blackbirds generally longer-distance migrants.

What is anting behavior in crows?

Anting is a fascinating crow behavior where they stand on anthills allowing ants to climb onto their feathers. The formic acid released by ants helps crows ward off parasites and produces an intoxicating effect on the birds.

How do blackbirds and crows differ in their breeding and social behavior?

Crows are cooperative breeders with flocks of 2-8 individuals, some staying to help raise offspring. Blackbirds are monogamous, breeding cooperatively in flocks of hundreds, with both parents raising young together.

What are the main dietary differences between blackbirds and crows?

Crows are omnivorous and opportunistic, eating insects, worms, fruits, grains, nuts, and small animals. Blackbirds are more selective, primarily consuming fruits, grains, insects, and berries found in gardens.

How intelligent are crows compared to other birds?

Crows demonstrate exceptional intelligence: they remember individual human faces, fashion tools from branches to extract insects, use strategic hunting methods, and relay facial recognition information to other crows in their social groups.

When do blackbirds typically sing and what triggers their vocalizations?

Blackbirds begin singing at the end of January through mid-July, singing particularly enthusiastically after rainfall stops. Their distinctive vocalizations consist of a squee followed by a gurgle lasting nearly a second.