American Crow vs Atlantic Puffin
Corvus brachyrhynchos compared with Fratercula arctica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Crow | Atlantic Puffin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Fratercula arctica |
| Order | Passeriformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Corvidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 99.0 cm (39.0 in) | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) |
| Weight | 450.0 g (15.87 oz) | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous — insects, earthworms, seeds, fruit, eggs, nestlings, carrion, and human food waste. Among … | Small fish, especially sand eels, herring, and capelin. Dives underwater using wings for propulsion, catching … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
American Crow
Extremely adaptable — found in farmland, open woodland, suburban neighborhoods, parking lots, and urban parks.
Atlantic Puffin
Breeds on grassy cliff tops and offshore islands. Spends winter entirely at sea in the North Atlantic.
Song & Call Comparison
American Crow
Classic 'caw-caw-caw' repeated in series. Family groups use distinct dialects. Also gives rattling, knocking, and a short 'cah' flight call. Highly social and vocal.
Atlantic Puffin
At burrow gives a low, moaning 'arr-arr-arr' growl. Silent at sea. At breeding colonies produces a series of grunting croaks. Chicks give soft peeping calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
American Crow
North America from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico.
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Conservation Status
American Crow
Atlantic Puffin
How to Tell Them Apart
American Crow
All black with a slight glossy sheen. Squared-off tail and smooth throat distinguish it from the common raven.
Straight, sturdy black bill smaller than a raven's
Atlantic Puffin
Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive white face. In breeding season, the face brightens and colourful bill plates develop. Winter plumage is duller with a darker face.
Large, laterally compressed, triangular bill — bright orange, blue, and yellow in breeding season
About These Birds
American Crow
The American crow is one of North America's most familiar and intelligent birds. Research has shown they can recognize individual human faces and communicate perceived threats to other crows. They form large winter roosts of up to hundreds of thousands of individuals in some cities.
Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic puffin, often called the clown of the sea, is a charismatic seabird that nests in burrows on northern sea cliffs. Puffins can carry up to a dozen fish crosswise in their beaks at once thanks to backward-facing spines on their palate. Climate change and overfishing are threatening their food supply, leading to population declines.