Differences between Blackbird and Crow

Blackbird Blackbird
Crow Crow

Blackbird and Crow are two classes of birds that belong to the Icteridae and Corvidae families respectively.

The New World Blackbirds are tiny songbirds. They have glossy plumage. While the male have black feathers, orange beaks, and orange rings around their eyes, the feathers of the female are a paler black or brown with their beaks and eye rims being yellow. There are about 26 species of Blackbirds. Some of them are Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Red-winged Blackbird.

Crow is a large bird with incredible intelligence. It is characterized by shiny black plumage and dark legs. Its beak, eyes, wings, and tail are all black. The bird has four toes on each foot. Crows are particularly known for their cleverness. They have great discerning abilities and have excellent self-control. They can make their own tools, solve problems, remember faces, mimic sounds, and prank other animals. They are also trainable. There are around 40 species of crows across the world.

Where are Blackbird and Crow found?

Blackbirds live in swamps, meadows, wetlands, forests, agricultural lands, parks, farms, and cities. They are distributed across North America, South America, Canada, Europe, and parts of Russia. They have also been introduced in Australia and New Zealand.

The natural habitat of Crows include grasslands, forests, mountains, agricultural regions, and deserts. They like locations where there are trees. However, these birds are highly adaptable and exist everywhere. They are common sight even in big cities. Crows can be found in all parts of the world. The exceptions are South America and Antarctica.

What do Blackbird and Crow eat?

Blackbirds are omnivores. They eat worms, ants, spiders, insects, grasshoppers, beetles, small reptiles and amphibians, seeds, berries, and fruits.

Crows are omnivores. They are both predators and scavengers. They can eat anything. They eat rodents, reptiles, small mammals, worms, insects, and eggs besides grains, fruits, nuts, and human food.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Blackbird and Crow

  • Both Blackbird and Crow eat Fish.
  • Both Blackbird and Crow eat Frogs.
  • Both Blackbird and Crow eat Lizards.
  • Both Blackbird and Crow eat Snakes.
  • Blackbird do not eat Turtles while Crow eat Turtles.
  • Blackbird do not eat Squirrels while Crow eat Squirrels.
  • Blackbird do not eat Gophers while Crow eat Gophers.
  • Blackbird do not eat Baby Ducks while Crow eat Baby Ducks.
  • Mice are eaten by both Blackbird and Crow.

Size of Blackbird and Crow?

When it comes to size, Blackbirds are small birds. They are about seven to 10 inches long with a wingspan of 13 inches.. The size of crows varies for different species. Jackdaw Crow is the smallest with a length of 13-15 inches and wingspan of 27 inches. Thick-billed Raven is the largest among the species. It is 28 inches long with a wingspan of 45 inches.

As Blackbirds are petite, their average weight is only two to four ounces. while Thick-billed Raven is the largest among crow species. It weighs 2.5-3.3 pounds. On the other hand, the weight of Jackdaw Crow, the smallest Crow, is eight ounces.

Where do Blackbird and Crow nest?

Blackbirds construct their nests in trees, shrubs, tree holes, or cavities in the ground. The nests are shaped like small cups and are made of twigs, grass, and other plant material. The nests are lined with mud and fine grass. The female bird builds the nest about two weeks before the breeding season. She uses the well-constructed nests for multiple broods in the season. The eggs are bluish green with brown spots. They are incubated by the female for 13-14 days. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are about two weeks old.

Crows build their nests in colonies. The male and female partners start building their nest about a month before the breeding season. Their offspring from previous breeding seasons assist them in nest building. The nests are constructed intellectually, with stronger material laid at the bottom for reinforcement. Crows use all kinds of material available around them to construct the nests. They would include twigs, sticks, hay, plant material, aluminium and copper wire, plastic threads, and wood pieces. The nests are usually placed in tall trees and hidden between trunks for improved safety. However, in cities, crows make their nests in inaccessible parts of tall buildings and billboards. The female incubates the eggs for about 18 days, during which time her partner and other offspring feed her. The newly hatched chicks fly when they are about four weeks old but continue to be fed by their parents and siblings for a longer time. The younger ones live with their parents until they start breeding on their own and sometimes even until they are five years old.

How long do Blackbird and Crow live?

The average lifespan of blackbirds is 2.4-3.4 years. According to bird ringing data, the longest-lived blackbird was 21 years and 10 months old. It lived in the UK.

The average lifespan of Crows is 11-15 years in the wild and over 20-30 years in captivity. Again, this is dependent on the species and the location they live in. Crows in North America are known to live over 30 years.

Are Blackbird or Crow migratory birds?

Blackbirds migrate or reside in the same territory throughout the year depending on geography. The ones in the UK are residents. Birds from northern Europe migrate to UK during winters. Red-winged Blackbirds migrate from Canada and other countries in northern parts of North America to spend winters in southern parts of the continent. Some Blackbirds of Russia reside in the same place for winters, while some travel towards the south or east.

Crows are partially migratory. Those in southern hemisphere are mostly residents. While some birds migrate short distances during winters, some others stay put even in frigid temperatures. Some of them may migrate to breed and some may travel to escape increased urbanization.

Do Blackbird and Crow fly in flocks?

A group of Blackbirds is known as a cluster, cloud, or merl. Blackbirds are mostly solitary. They live in their own territories or interact with small groups of their own species. The birds however flock in large numbers during migration.

A flock of Crows is called a murder. Crows are sociable birds. They live in groups of varying sizes and always roost in flocks. The birds also have their own families consisting of two to 15 members. Different families communicate and cooperate with each other.

Are Blackbird or Crow protected?

Blackbirds are protected in their resident countries under wildlife protection laws. Harming or hunting them is prohibited in these countries. However, Blackbirds destroying crops in Australia can be killed.

Crows are protected in many countries under various schemes and laws for wildlife conservation and protection of migratory birds. Harming Crows or their nests is a punishable offence in these places. However, in countries like Canada there is no law to protect Crows.

Are Blackbird or Crow endangered?

Blackbirds are not endangered. They are the highest breeding birds in the UK. They live in plenty in Europe. Rusty Blackbird is one species that is listed as vulnerable in Canada. Its population is also reducing in North America.

Crows are not endangered birds although their numbers are reducing owing to habitat loss, persecution by farmers, and widespread urbanization. The Hawaiian Crow is extinct in the wild. Restoration activities to increase their population is in progress. Similarly, numbers of Mariana Crow are dropping since 1960s with only a few of them remaining now. They are listed as critically endangered. Efforts to conserve them are underway.

Can Blackbird and Crow fly?

Blackbirds fly short to long distances during migration. They may travel 100-800 miles in winters. They prefer flying in large flocks while travelling.

Crows usually fly along the same lines every day. They are joined by their flocks as they fly for hunting or towards their roosting sites. They can fly at a speed of 30-60 miles an hour. During migration, some species travel up to 1,740 miles.

Can Blackbird and Crow swim?

Blackbirds are good swimmers. They can dive and swim underwater to catch a fish.

Crows are not waterbirds. They do not have webbed feet and their body structure does not allow them to swim. They may be able to float on shallow waters by flapping their wings.

Mating patterns among Blackbird and Crow

Blackbirds reach sexual maturity when they are a year old. They are more friendly during the breeding season. During courtship, the male attracts the female by running sideways and making head movements. He also tries to sing to woo her. It is the female’s responsibility to construct the nest and incubate the eggs. Once the eggs hatch, both partners share responsibility to feed the young ones.

Crows reach sexual maturity when they are two to four years old. The mating displays generally take place on the ground. The male bird ruffles his feathers and makes bowing movements while facing the female. He also makes soft coos to attract her attention. Most partners share their mating territories with their children from previous breeding seasons. The female usually lays two to six eggs in a clutch. The eggs hatch after about 18 days.

When is the mating season for Blackbird and Crow ?

The mating season for Blackbirds generally occurs during March-July. The birds raise three to four broods in a single breeding season.

The mating season for Crows is usually March-July. It varies slightly in different continents.

Do Blackbird and Crow mate for life?

Blackbirds are mostly monogamous. The partners mate for life and defend their territories with their partners. In case of unsuccessful broods or loss of brood to a predator, the male may seek a new partner while the female prepares herself for the next brood.

Crows are monogamous. They mate with the same partner each year. Only in the case of death or indisposition of one partner does the other seek a different mate.

How do Blackbird and Crow sleep?

Blackbirds are nocturnal, although they may nap during the day. They sleep in tree holes and cavities. In winters, they may roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

Crows usually roost in colonies. They sleep on top of tree while standing up. The birds generally sleep when the sun sets and wake up little before sunrise.

Can Blackbird and Crow be eaten?

Blackbirds are known to taste bitter. Their meat were consumed in the past in Ireland and parts of Europe. However, the tradition is fading away. Conservation laws also do not permit killing of Blackbirds for meat.

Crows are eaten in some cultures. Native Americans and Lithuanians eat them in frenzy. Eating Crow meat is permitted in many countries across the world.

Can you hunt Blackbird or Crow?

Blackbirds were hunted for meat. They were also killed for destroying farms and crops. Modern laws do not permit hunting of the birds. However, in Australia, Blackbirds are considered as pests and allowed to be killed to protect commercial crops.

Crows are hunted for different reasons, such as for sport and meat. They are also killed by farmers for destroying their crops. The birds are not protected everywhere. Countries like the USA allow killing of Crows with a permit or outside of the nesting season.

Can you feed Blackbird or Crow?

Blackbirds can be given worms, oats, maize, and dried fruits. In captivity, they are fed with grasshoppers, worms, ants, beetles, spiders, and dried fruits.

Feeding Crows in public is discouraged in places like Singapore, Canada, and Dubai. However, feeding Crows is a ritualistic practise in some cultures of south Asia. In captivity, Crows are given worms, mice, eggs, and meat.