The crow family are an interesting group of birds, including species ranging from the commonly spotted magpie to the shy jay. Known as corvids, members of the crow family are extremely intelligent birds that can adapt to a range of food sources, habitats and nesting sites. But can you tell the difference between the species of the crow family? Let’s explore which birds are in the crow family and how you can tell them all apart.

The Crow Family

Corvidae, or the crow family, is a family of oscine passerine birds made up of 133 species. Genera of the crow family are intelligent birds, and multiple studies have proven they are competent in puzzle solving. As well as this, corvids can communicate with each other and outsiders. In addition, they are very adept at imitating noises, including human speech. Experts have proven that a corvid’s brain, although small in size, contains more neurons than primates with larger brains, suggesting that the intelligence and ability of members of the crow family are a result of convergent evolution[i].   

Which Birds Are In The Crow Family?

As we mentioned, 133 species of birds are in the crow family. These unique species include treepies, nutcrackers, oriental magpies and piapiacs. However, of all 133 corvid species, only 8 breed in the UK[ii]. So, let’s take a look at the members of the crow family that breed in the UK and how you can identify them.   

Carrion Crow

Scientific Name: Corvus corone

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 1,000,000 territories

The carrion crow is probably the most recognised species in the crow family around the UK. This crow is one of the UK’s most intelligent birds and is incredibly adaptable. However, they are usually wary of humans due to large-scale persecution over the past centuries. Although carrion crows occasionally form flocks, we know them to be solitary birds, generally travelling alone or in pairs.

How To Identify A Carrion Crow

The carrion crow is an all-black bird, including its feathers, beak and feet. However, a carrion crow’s wing and nape feathers may look purple or blue under sunlight. In flight, a carrion crow has rounded wingtips and a long wingspan, reaching about 104 cm for many crows. Usually, you can find carrion crows around parks, woods and farms, and you can distinguish them by their solitary ‘caw’ cry.

Chough

Scientific Name: Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 250 – 350 pairs

Because of its bright red and black colours, the chough (pronounced ‘chuff’) is a unique member of the crow family. Choughs are well known for their flying skills since they can dive and swoop when chasing prey or avoiding predators. Although choughs are spotted in flocks throughout autumn and weather, the species is prominent in the west of Britain.

How To Identify A Chough

Choughs are easily identifiable among other members of the crow family by their bright red bill and legs. However, its plumage is a deep black, cementing its place in the family. Known as the coastal crow, choughs nest on cliffs, where they can find food in grasslands using their specially adapted, downturned beaks. Although choughs look similar to jackdaws in flight, their distinctive ‘chee-ow’ call should help identify them.   

Hooded Crow

Scientific Name: Corvus cornix

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 260,000 pairs

Due to their close relations and similarities, specialists have only recently split the hooded crow as a separate species from the carrion crow. However, hooded crows are much more sociable than carrions and often seen in groups. In addition, since the two species overlap in many areas, there have been cases of interbreeding so that you may spot hybrid birds with a mix of hooded crow and carrion crow features.

How To Identify A Hooded Crow

Despite their similarities to the carrion crow, hooded crows are slightly different in appearance. For example, the hooded crow has a black head, wings and tail with a grey body, rather than the all-black body of a carrion crow. In addition, since hooded crows are usually more social than carrion crows, you can often spot them feeding in groups. Hooded crows are most common in Ireland and Scotland, where they have primarily replaced the carrion crow.

Jackdaw

Scientific Name: Corvus monedula

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 1,400,000 pairs

The jackdaw is a surprisingly noisy bird that is common around gardens and parks, particularly those on the edge of a town. Many jackdaws are highly agile, and they can cling to mesh bird feeders. Through winter, large numbers of jackdaws often gather for dusk roosts, and during this period, you may see them flying and ‘dancing’ through the sky before settling in tall trees.  

How To Identify A Jackdaw

Jackdaws are only small members of the crow family, with black feathers and a silver sheen around the back of their heads. A distinctive feature of the jackdaw is the pale eyes, which a blue-grey colour. Usually, jackdaws prefer to nest in loose colonies, so look for places that provide plenty of holes and mantels. Flocks of jackdaws usually emit a loud call – the ‘tchack’ which gave the bird its name.  

Jay

Scientific Name: Garrulus glandarius

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 170,000 territories

Despite being the most colourful member of the crow family, the jay is surprisingly difficult to spot. They are shy birds and prefer to remain under cover. However, they are regarded as one of the smartest members of the crow family due to their memories. The jays main diet is acorns and nuts, and they usually bury acorns in the autumn to retrieve in winter. As a result, they are able to remember the locations of hundreds of acorns come winter to ensure their survival.

How To Identify A Jay

Jays are apprehensive woodland birds, and you can’t often spot them since their colouring ensures they blend in with their surroundings. They have pinkish-brown plumage and black and white wing feathers with prominent streaks of blue. In addition, the jay’s wings are shorter than the rest of the crow family to help it manoeuvre through the trees. To spot a jay, listen out for its screaming call, which usually means a bird is about to move, so watch the sky to spot the flash of white of a jay’s rump.

Magpie

Scientific Name: Pica pica

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 600,000 territories

The magpie is a commonly spotted member of the crow family, and its lack of shyness is a rarity. Magpies are known for scavenging and destroying pests, however they are also highly skilled predators. Although people blame them for the decline of songbird species since they eat eggs and fledglings, there’s no evidence to support this figure, so don’t worry if you spot magpies in your garden.  

How To Identify A Magpie

Magpies are an incredibly distinctive corvid with their long, green-tinted tail and black and white plumage. Under sunlight, a magpie’s feathers may look blue or purple. Magpies are much bolder than other crow family members, so you will often spot them around gardens and parks all over the UK.

Raven

Scientific Name: Corvus corax

Conservation Status: Green

Population: 7,400 pairs

The raven is the biggest member of the crow family, with some growing as tall as 68 cm. Some ravens have even caught rabbits and pheasants. Similar to carrion crows, humans have persecuted ravens in the past due to their predatory behaviours. However, ravens have not become as solitary as crows and you can find them in groups of around half a dozen.

How To Identify A Raven

Ravens are large, black birds with a metallic grey sheen in sunlight and a large black bill. In flight, a raven shows a diamond-shaped tail and a large wingspan, stretching to 150 cm. Recently ravens have been expanding their breeding range, meaning you can find them in uplands of hills and moors and tall trees in lowlands. You can distinguish a raven from its croaking call.

Rook

Scientific Name: Corvus frugilegus

Conservation Status: Amber

Population: 1,100,00 pairs

Rooks are commonly found on farmlands and are sociable birds. You can see their large nesting colonies throughout the beginning half of the year, and it’s not uncommon for rooks to flock together in groups of thousands in winter. Unfortunately, Rooks are the only member of the crow family whose conservation status is amber, meaning they are of moderate concern. This is due to a moderate decline in breeding pairs over recent years.

How To Identify A Rook

Rooks are easily identifiable among the crow family by their thin, white beak. They have a shaggier appearance than other corvids, with their black plumage often looking unkempt. You can often spot rooks with jackdaws, but you can tell the difference by their greyish-white face and peaked head.

How To Attract Corvids To Your Garden

Although cautious and solitary, many members of the crow family will come to gardens for food. Upon learning that the area is safe, they will return repeatedly to take advantage of the easily accessible sources that you offer, particularly the carrion crow. Contrary to popular belief, crows can be incredibly beneficial in your garden, providing benefits such as waste clean-up and pest control. In fact, a crow can eat 40,000 insects during one nesting season![iii]

To attract crows and other corvids to your garden, you can:

• Leave Out The Right Food: The crow family can be particular about their food, but unsalted bird peanuts are usually a hit.  
• Use The Right Feeders: Crows typically feed on the ground, so a regular feeder is unlikely to attract them. Instead, try a ground feeder in a spot visible from the sky.
• Provide A Bird Bath: Corvids need water for drinking, eating and bathing like any bird. Install a bird bath in your garden to keep visitors happy during summer.  
• Reduce Noise: Although many corvids are loud and vocal, outside noise can easily spook them. Reduce noise in your garden, such as wind chimes or creaky gates, to keep your new crow family coming back.
• Watch From Afar: Many corvids – particularly crows – are shy around people due to high persecution levels throughout history. To keep crows returning to your garden, observe them from afar to avoid scaring them off.

Understanding The Crow Family

If you’re looking to identify members of the crow family, hopefully, now you know your carrion from your jackdaw! Whether you are hoping to help crows in your garden or are interested in spotting them in the wild, this family is nothing short of interesting.

Let us know your experiences with the crow family!

  [i] https://bna-naturalists.org/id-guide-to-british-crows-corvids/

[ii] https://bna-naturalists.org/id-guide-to-british-crows-corvids/

[iii] https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-crows