Raven at Yellowstone National Park

A loud raven saying hello (“Rahgggggggh!”) at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

Ravens and crows are hardy birds, and can occupy the coldest and wildest habitats. Both the Common Raven – Corvus corax – and the American Crow –  Corvus brachyrhynchos – may be seen in Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.

Raven – or Crow? How do you know?

Although some of the most common birds in North America,  the ‘black corvids’ (ravens and crows) are frequently misidentified, even by birders.

Ravens are larger than crows.  They have larger, thicker bills, stronger legs, and larger, wedge-shaped tails. Their wingtips are longer and they  more tapered.  In the air, ravens look more like raptors, and may soar for extended periods.  Ravens have deeper, hoarser voices and although they may be seen in pairs or in a large flock, they don’t tend to be flocks of thousands like crows.

To learn more about how to tell the difference between a raven and a crow, visit Ebird:https://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/crows_and_ravens.

For a list of birds seen in Yellowstone Park, visithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Yellowstone_National_Park.