Differences between Crow and Owl

Crow and Owl are two classes of birds that belong to the Corvidae and Tytonidae families respectively.

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.

Owl is a large nocturnal bird. It has a round and flat face with hooked beaks, static eyes, and large ears. Its neck is flexible and can turn over 180 degrees on both sides. This allows the bird to look around and backward even with its fixed eyes. The bird cannot see color but its visual clarity is sharp. Its ears are asymmetrical but acute in discerning sounds from different dimensions. Owl is commonly seen standing in upright position. Its plumage is soft and heavy. The color varies for different species, from grey to brown to reddish brown. The plumage mostly have markings on them, camouflaging the owl amidst dense foliage. The fossils of owls are dated back to over 65.5 million years. At present, there are about 250 species in the Owl family.

Where are Crow and Owl found?

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.

Owls live in diverse habitats such as forests, mountains, plains, and deserts. The Snowy Owl lives in the frigid regions of North Pole. Species like Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl can be found in cities. Owls can be found in all countries of the world except Antarctica.

What do Crow and Owl eat?

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.

Owls are carnivorous birds. Their diet depends on food sources in their environment. Owls eat insects, rodents, crabs, snails, small birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

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

• Both Crow and Owl eat Fish.
• Both Crow and Owl eat Frogs.
• Both Crow and Owl eat Lizards.
• Both Crow and Owl eat Snakes.
• Both Crow and Owl eat Turtles.
• Both Crow and Owl eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Crow, but not by all Owl.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Crowand Owl.
• Mice are eaten by both Crow and Owl.

Size of Crow and Owl?

When it comes to size, 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.. The owls measure 0.4-2.3 feet in length with a wingspan of 1-6.6 feet. Elf Owl, which is the smallest in the family, is about 0.5 feet tall. Blakiston Fish Owl, the largest Owl species, is 2.3 feet tall.

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. while The weight of Owls varies for different species. Elf Owl weighs about 1.5 ounce, while the large North American Owl weighs about 8.8 pounds.

Where do Crow and Owl nest?

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.

Owls do not build nests. They use holes in trees, quiet places in barns and buildings, caves, natural cavities in river banks, and nests of other birds to lay their eggs. The female Owl starts incubating the eggs when the first one is laid. She lays eggs two to three days apart. Consequently, the eggs do not hatch synchronously. In the nesting season, the female develops additional feathers, called brood patch, on her belly to provide warmth during incubation. The eggs hatch 32 days after incubation. The young ones fledge when they are six to eight weeks old.

How long do Crow and Owl live?

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.

The average lifespan of Owls in the wild is five to 12 years. Larger Owls may live longer, sometimes up to 25 years. The oldest Owl, which was a female Great Horned Owl, turned 50 years in 2012. She lived in captivity at the San Francisco Zoo.

Are Crow or Owl migratory birds?

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.

Not all Owl species are migratory. Some relocate to warmer regions during winters. However, some Owls remain in their territories even in winters. The Great Gray Owl and the Great Horned Owl of Canada are resident species. The Snowy Owl that lives in the North Pole migrates to Canada and USA during winters. In Europe, the Scops Owls migrates to the tip of the Sahara Desert. The Short-Eared Owl is another migratory Owl from India that travels long distances, sometimes even crossing oceans.

Do Crow and Owl fly in flocks?

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.

A group of Owls is called a parliament. Owls are extreme loners and prefer solitary existence. They rarely flock aside the breeding season. They sometimes roost in small groups or in pairs for warmth in cold temperatures.

Are Crow or Owl protected?

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.

Owls are protected in most countries like the USA, UK, India, Canada, and Japan. They do not enjoy protection in some countries, while in some others only the endangered species are protected.

Are Crow or Owl endangered?

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.

Some species of Owls are endangered and face threat of extinction. These include Pernambuco Pygmy Owl, Siau Scops Owl, Forest Owl, Moheli Scops Owl, Congo Bay Owl, and Long-Whiskered Owlet. The population of Owls is threatened by loss of habitat, lack of food sources, hunting, and climate change.

Can Crow and Owl fly?

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.

Owls are known to fly without making any sound. The comb-like design on the edges of their feathers and their large wings enable them to fly noiselessly. They fly slowly, without flapping their wings too much. Some species of Owls fly at a speed of just two miles an hour, while the faster species can reach 40 miles per hour.

Can Crow and Owl swim?

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.

Owls are not natural swimmers. They do not have webbed feet. However, they can manage to swim if they happen to accidentally fall in water.

Mating patterns among Crow and Owl

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.

Owls start mating when they are two to three years old. During the mating season, the male and female Owls perform mating dances. They also hoot mating calls that boost their bond and keep away other Owls from their territory. The male may get a prey as offering to the female to woo her. In some species, partners may engage in giggling and snapping of bills as part of mating ritual. The female may lay one to 15 eggs in a breeding season, however not all at once. It is her responsibility to lay eggs, incubate and hatch them. Once the chicks are born, the male may fetch food for them and give it to the female.

When is the mating season for Crow and Owl ?

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

The mating season for Owls is generally spring every year. However, some species mate during winter months.

Do Crow and Owl mate for life?

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.

Owls are devoted partners. They mate for life. They also use the same nesting site year after year.

How do Crow and Owl sleep?

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.

Owls are nocturnal birds. They sleep either on trees or on the ground while standing and keeping their eyes closed. Most species are awake during the night when they hunt. They mostly sleep during the day.

Can Crow and Owl be eaten?

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.

Humans are not known to have consumed Owls. The birds do not have much meat on them. Their taste is known to be unpalatable.

Can you hunt Crow or Owl?

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.

Owls are typically not hunted. Only in cases when they cause trouble, people hunt them or capture them and release them in the wild. Hunting or harming Owls is not allowed in many countries.

Can you feed Crow or Owl?

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.

Most countries do not permit owning or feeding of Owls. In captivity, the birds are fed rodents, chicken, meat, and worms.