American Crow vs Black-collared Jay
Corvus brachyrhynchos compared with Cyanolyca armillata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Crow | Black-collared Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Cyanolyca armillata |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae | Corvidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 99.0 cm (39.0 in) | 27.7 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 450.0 g (15.87 oz) | 168.33333333333334 g (5.94 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous — insects, earthworms, seeds, fruit, eggs, nestlings, carrion, and human food waste. Among … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
American Crow
Extremely adaptable — found in farmland, open woodland, suburban neighborhoods, parking lots, and urban parks.
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.
Black-collared Jay
Geographic Range & Migration
American Crow
North America from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico.
Black-collared Jay
Conservation Status
American Crow
Black-collared Jay
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
Black-collared Jay
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.
Black-collared Jay
The Black-collared Jay is a striking, medium-sized jay of Andean cloud forests in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru, with deep blue plumage, a black head, and a distinctive narrow black collar. It inhabits the canopy and edges of humid montane forests at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. It feeds on insects, berries, small vertebrates, and eggs.