American Crow vs Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Corvus brachyrhynchos compared with Cicinnurus respublica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Crow | Wilson's Bird-of-paradise |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Cicinnurus respublica |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae | Paradisaeidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 99.0 cm (39.0 in) | 19.0 cm (7.5 in) |
| Weight | 450.0 g (15.87 oz) | 55.0 g (1.94 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous — insects, earthworms, seeds, fruit, eggs, nestlings, carrion, and human food waste. Among … | Fruit and insects gleaned from the forest canopy and subcanopy. Particularly favors figs. |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Crow only
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise only
None
American Crow
Extremely adaptable — found in farmland, open woodland, suburban neighborhoods, parking lots, and urban parks.
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Lowland and hill forests on the small islands of Waigeo and Batanta in the Raja Ampat archipelago, Indonesia.
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.
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Male gives a harsh, nasal 'waah' or 'eeah' from display perch. Song is poorly documented in wild. Also produces mechanical rattling wing sounds during display flights.
Geographic Range & Migration
American Crow
North America from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico.
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Endemic to the islands of Waigeo and Batanta off the northwestern tip of New Guinea, Indonesia.
Conservation Status
American Crow
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
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
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Males have a brilliant red back, yellow nape, turquoise blue bare crown, and green breast shield. Violet-blue curled tail wires. Females are brownish with bare blue crown.
Short, slightly curved greyish bill
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.
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Wilson's bird-of-paradise is one of the most extraordinarily colored birds on Earth. Males meticulously clear a patch of forest floor as a display court, removing every leaf and twig. The species was virtually unknown to science until the late 20th century due to its restricted island range.