Common Raven vs Great Cormorant

Corvus corax مقارنةً بـ Phalacrocorax carbo

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Common Raven Great Cormorant
الاسم العلمي Corvus corax Phalacrocorax carbo
الرتبة Passeriformes Suliformes
الفصيلة Corvidae Phalacrocoracidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول 63,0 cm (24.8 in) 90,0 cm (35.4 in)
طول الجناح 130,0 cm (51.2 in) 145,0 cm (57.1 in)
الوزن 1200,0 g (42.33 oz) 2600,0 g (91.71 oz)
النظام الغذائي Omnivorous and opportunistic — carrion, small animals, insects, eggs, grain, fruit, and human refuse. Among … Fish caught by diving from the surface. Pursues prey underwater using powerful feet for propulsion. …
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-8 1-7
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Common Raven 63,0 cm
Great Cormorant 90,0 cm
طول الجناح
Common Raven 130,0 cm
Great Cormorant 145,0 cm
الوزن
Common Raven 1200,0 g
Great Cormorant 2600,0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Common Raven only

Great Cormorant only

Common Raven

Diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to deserts, mountains, forests, and coastlines. Avoids dense urban areas but thrives near human activity.

Great Cormorant

Coasts, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Nests in colonies in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Common Raven

الغناء

Highly varied: deep resonant 'kraa-kraa-kraa', hollow 'tok-tok', liquid 'klonk', and wing-whooshing. Among the most intelligent corvid callers; uses calls contextually in groups.

Great Cormorant

الغناء

Deep, guttural grunts and 'karrr' calls at colonies. Bill-clicking and hissing in threat displays. Silent at sea. Colonial noise can be deafening during the breeding season.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Common Raven

Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The most widely distributed corvid.

Great Cormorant

Very wide range across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. One of the most widespread cormorant species.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Common Raven

Least Concern

Great Cormorant

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Common Raven

الريش

All black with a glossy purplish-blue iridescent sheen. Shaggy throat hackles, long wedge-shaped tail, and large robust build distinguish it from crows.

المنقار

Large, powerful, curved black bill

Great Cormorant

الريش

All black with a bronze-green gloss. White throat patch and white thigh patches in breeding season. Yellow-orange face patch around the bill base.

المنقار

Long, hooked, dark bill with a yellow gape

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Common Raven

The common raven is among the most intelligent birds, demonstrating tool use, future planning, and social manipulation in scientific studies. In many cultures, ravens feature prominently in mythology as creators, tricksters, or messengers. Their complex vocalizations include over 30 distinct calls.

Great Cormorant

The great cormorant is one of the most widespread seabirds in the world. Unlike most waterbirds, cormorants lack fully waterproof plumage, leading to the iconic pose of standing with wings spread open to dry. In Asia, cormorants have been used by fishermen to catch fish for over a thousand years.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family