American Crow vs Griffon Vulture
Corvus brachyrhynchos compared with Gyps fulvus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Crow | Griffon Vulture |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Gyps fulvus |
| Order | Passeriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Corvidae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) |
| Wingspan | 99.0 cm (39.0 in) | 260.0 cm (102.4 in) |
| Weight | 450.0 g (15.87 oz) | 8500.0 g (299.83 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous — insects, earthworms, seeds, fruit, eggs, nestlings, carrion, and human food waste. Among … | Exclusively carrion, primarily large mammal carcasses. Feeds communally, with groups of vultures able to strip … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Crow only
Griffon Vulture only
American Crow
Extremely adaptable — found in farmland, open woodland, suburban neighborhoods, parking lots, and urban parks.
Griffon Vulture
Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.
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.
Griffon Vulture
Generally silent; hisses and grunts at carrion with other vultures. Gives low croaking 'arrr' near nest. At colonies produces cackling and grunting — not melodic vocalizations.
Geographic Range & Migration
American Crow
North America from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico.
Griffon Vulture
Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.
Conservation Status
American Crow
Griffon Vulture
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
Griffon Vulture
Tawny-brown body with darker flight feathers. White neck ruff and bare greyish head. Long broad wings held flat when soaring.
Hooked yellowish bill adapted for tearing carrion
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.
Griffon Vulture
The griffon vulture is one of Europe's largest flying birds and a crucial scavenger in Mediterranean ecosystems. These social birds nest in large cliff colonies and can soar for hours using thermals without flapping. Vulture populations faced a crisis from the veterinary drug diclofenac, which proved fatal when consumed through contaminated carcasses.