Differences between Chickadee and Raven

Chickadee and Raven are two classes of birds that belong to the Paridae and Corvidae families respectively.

Chickadee is a group of North American songbirds that symbolizes energy and courage. The name is analogous to the bird’s call notes that is usually used to send out alarms. It is interesting that the number of times ‘dee’ is called out is based on the type of predator. Chickadees are capable of producing 13 types of complex vocalizations. Chickadees are small birds with a round head and long tail. Their crown, forehead, and neck are deep black in color. The cheeks and belly are pure white, while the back is grey. The wings and tail are streaks of white and black. The eyes of Chickadees are brown. Their bill is short, slightly curved, and black. Chickadee is an inquisitive bird and quick in spotting preys and feeders. It is especially known for its exemplary memory. The bird conceals about 80,000 seeds in different places during the summer and reclaims them efficiently in the winter. Chickadees are also capable of identifying and remembering every aspect of their environment.

Ravens are large perching birds. They are noisy and can make different sounds. They are intelligent birds with an ability to make their own tools and save useful items for the future. There are 10 species of Ravens. They have black plumage, dark legs, and long tail. The species living in western North America have white feathers on their neck, while those in the rest of North America, south Asia, Australia, and Africa have white or brown neck feathers. Ravens are like Crows in many ways. But their feathers are more ruffled, and their beak is larger and arched.

Where are Chickadee and Raven found?

Chickadees generally live in dense forests and coniferous regions. However, they can also be found in open grasslands and open woods near waterbeds. They have also adapted themselves to live in parks and gardens in cities. They are regular visitors at backyards. Chickadees are native to North America. They exist there in huge population. There are seven Chickadee species in the continent. Some of them are Mountain Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Mexican Chickadee, and Black-capped Chickadee. Similar birds exist in Asia, Africa, and Europe. However, only the North American group of birds are known as Chickadees. The other identical birds are mostly known as tits.

Ravens live in open grasslands, forests, coasts, deserts, agricultural fields, and cities. They can be found across the world except Antarctica. They are heavily populated in Canada, North America, northern Europe, and India.

What do Chickadee and Raven eat?

Chickadees are omnivores. They mostly eat insects, snails, spiders, worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants besides berries, seeds, and fruits. Occasionally the birds also eat small invertebrates and carrion.

Ravens are omnivores and scavenging birds. They eat rodents, reptiles, eggs, small nesting birds, berries, fruits, vegetables, and human refuse.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Chickadee and Raven

• Chickadee do not eat Fish while Raven eat Fish.
• Chickadee do not eat Frogs while Raven eat Frogs.
• Both Chickadee and Raven eat Lizards.
• Both Chickadee and Raven eat Snakes.
• Chickadee do not eat Turtles while Raven eat Turtles.
• Chickadee do not eat Squirrels while Raven eat Squirrels.
• Chickadee do not eat Gophers while Raven eat Gophers.
• Chickadee do not eat Baby Ducks while Raven eat Baby Ducks.
• Chickadee do not eat Mice while Raven eat Mice.

Size of Chickadee and Raven?

When it comes to size, Chickadees are small birds. They are 2.4-5.5 inches long and have a wingspan of six to eight inches.. Ravens are usually about 2.1 feet long and have a wingspan of four feet. Some species of Ravens may be smaller. The Thick-billed Raven is the largest among the species.

The weight of Chickadees depends on the species. The average weight is 0.29-0.39 ounces. while The average weight of Ravens is 1.5-4.4 pounds. The Thick-billed Raven weighs about 3.4 pounds.

Where do Chickadee and Raven nest?

Chickadees generally build their nests in wooded areas, four to 15 feet above the ground. They prefer tree holes and cavities. They also use boxes and birdhouses. Sometimes, the male and female partners dig cavities in the trees. The female bird chooses the nesting site and constructs the nest. The nest of Chickadees is shaped like a cup and made of twigs, leaves, and other material on the outer. It is lined with soft material like moss, rabbit fur, and feathers on the inside. Chickadee eggs are pinkish white with dark speckles. The female incubates them for 12-13 days during which time she is fed by her partner. After the eggs hatch, both partners share the duties of feeding and protecting the young ones. The chicks fledge when they are about 16 days old.

Ravens naturally make their nests on treetops or cliffs. In cities, they build their nests on top of roofs, power lines, or billboards. The nest looks like a basket with woven sticks and wires. The male helps the female by fetching the sticks and breaking them into smaller pieces. The eggs are 4.4-5.2 centimeters long and 3.1-3.6 centimeters wide. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs, which hatch in 20-25 days. The young ones leave the nest when they are five to seven weeks old.

How long do Chickadee and Raven live?

The average lifespan of Chickadees in the wild is three to seven years. Most nestlings face threat of being eaten by hawks, owls, and other mammals that climb trees. The longest known lived Chickadee was 11 years and five months old.

The average lifespan of Ravens is 10-15 years. Among the banded birds, the longest-lived Raven has been a wild Common Raven that lived for 23 years and three months.

Are Chickadee or Raven migratory birds?

Chickadees are typically non-migratory. They reside in their territories throughout the year. While adult birds always stay put by huddling together in small flocks during winters, the young ones may travel long distances when population at their territories increases after breeding. However, this cannot be termed as migration. Winters are managed without migration as Chickadees have special adaptations. They have dense plumes that help them maintain body temperature during the day. At nights, they roost in flocks. The birds also stay active to keep themselves warm. Further, Chickadees store seeds and grains in summers so they don’t run out of food during winters.

Ravens are not migratory but some species from the northern hemisphere may travel south during winters. During the breeding season, some species may relocate for nesting. On a daily basis, Ravens travel about 40 miles in search of food.

Do Chickadee and Raven fly in flocks?

A flock of Chickadees is called banditry. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are friendly with birds of their own species as well as other birds. They use special calls to interact with their flocks. The birds also follow a complex social hierarchy. Chickadees mostly live in pairs during the breeding season. In other times, they live in small flocks of four to 12 birds. In winters they roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

A group of Ravens is called unkindness or conspiracy. Ravens may live in pairs or small groups. They are known to forage in small flocks. They also roost in colonies during winter.

Are Chickadee or Raven protected?

Chickadees are protected under the law in North America. According to the law, it is illegal to hunt, harm, trap or transport the birds or their nests.

Ravens are protected in several countries like the USA, UK, Canada Australia, and India under laws for wildlife and migratory bird protection. Some countries like France offer protection to certain species of Ravens.

Are Chickadee or Raven endangered?

Chickadees are neither threatened nor endangered. They exist in booming numbers. However, their population is expected to get scattered and their habitats are likely to get distributed owing to global warming and climate change.

Ravens are not endangered or threatened. They are listed as birds of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ravens however face threats of habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting.

Can Chickadee and Raven fly?

In flight, the wings and tail of Chickadees are spread out. The birds move up and down while flying and usually do not fly in a straight line. They flap their wings vigorously in short intervals. The maximum flying speed of Chickadees is 12 miles per hour. Chickadees either fly alone or in flocks that may also include other species of birds. They are capable of performing acrobatics while hanging on to trees or bird feeders.

Ravens fly by soaring and gliding. They rarely flap their wings. The birds sometimes fly upside down to uphold their position in territorial hierarchy. The average flying speed of Ravens is 50 miles per hour. A wild Raven can fly up to 100 miles a day.

Can Chickadee and Raven swim?

Chickadees are small birds with feet adapted for perching. Therefore, they cannot swim. But the birds visit shallow waters for drinking and bathing. They are also capable of bathing in cold icy waters during winters.

Ravens are not water birds. They neither have webbed feet. Therefore, they cannot swim.

Mating patterns among Chickadee and Raven

Chickadees attain sexual maturity when they are six to eight months old. Soon after winter, the flocks start disintegrating and the birds will become more territorial. There is no particular mating ritual that Chickadees follow. The male Chickadees become aggressive to defend their territories. Some of them also feed their partners. The male and female engage in singing and fluttering of wings during courtship. The female recites ‘dee’ multiple times to keep her partner undistracted. At the same time, she is observant of the singing competitions between her partner and other males. Chickadees generally raise only one brood each year. The clutch could have one to 13 eggs depending on the species. The female lays one egg per day. Older females lay the maximum number of eggs. The female bird incubates the eggs and also protects them from predators. She is supported by her partner after hatching to tend to the young ones.

Ravens start mating when they are three to four years old. In the breeding season, the partners fly together, soaring and diving, and performing joyful aerial dances. Their mating ritual also includes several vocalizations, stroking of beaks, and grooming each other’s feathers. The female Raven lays three to seven eggs in a clutch. The partners take turns to incubate the eggs and share responsibility of raising the young ones.

When is the mating season for Chickadee and Raven ?

The mating season for Chickadees occurs during April-June. The birds start pairing in the beginning of April and by the start of May they start building their nests.

Ravens have the earliest mating season among all birds. The season occurs from January until May.

Do Chickadee and Raven mate for life?

Chickadees are usually monogamous. Their relationships last for several years or for life. In some cases, the female may dissociate from her partner if she finds another mate from a higher status in the hierarchy.

Ravens are monogamous and mate for life. They also return to the same nesting territory every year.

How do Chickadee and Raven sleep?

Chickadees sleep in tree holes, bird boxes, or ledges of buildings. They prefer to sleep alone except in winters when they huddle together with their flock. During winters, the birds eat plenty of seeds and insects to endure the long cold nights when they will not be able to venture out for foraging.

Ravens sleep on large trees, cliff ledges, billboards, or windowsills of tall buildings. They sleep while standing on both legs to be able to react swiftly in case of predator attack. The birds generally roost in flocks.

Can Chickadee and Raven be eaten?

There have been instances of people eating the meat of Chickadees in the past. However, harming and hunting of these birds is illegal under modern laws.

Raven meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. However, modern laws do not permit killing of Ravens for meat.

Can you hunt Chickadee or Raven?

Chickadees may have been hunted in the past for their meat. However, modern laws do not permit hunting, harming, or trapping of the birds.

Ravens were hunted in the past for meat. Contemporary conservation laws do not allow harming or hunting of the birds. Nevertheless, in countries like the USA, permit can be obtained to kill Ravens that annoy farmers on agricultural lands and poultry farms.

Can you feed Chickadee or Raven?

Chickadees have never been domesticated by humans. They are nevertheless offered food at bird feeders. People usually give them sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet blends.

Feeding Ravens in public is not encouraged. In captivity, they are fed worms, mice, eggs, meat, and fruits.