American Crow vs Black-billed Magpie
Corvus brachyrhynchos compared with Pica hudsonia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Crow | Black-billed Magpie |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Pica hudsonia |
| 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) | 40.6 cm (16.0 in) |
| Weight | 450.0 g (15.87 oz) | 176.75 g (6.23 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous — insects, earthworms, seeds, fruit, eggs, nestlings, carrion, and human food waste. Among … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 1-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Crow only
Black-billed Magpie only
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-billed Magpie
Geographic Range & Migration
American Crow
North America from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico.
Black-billed Magpie
Conservation Status
American Crow
Black-billed Magpie
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-billed Magpie
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-billed Magpie
The Black-billed Magpie is a striking, long-tailed corvid of western North America, with bold black-and-white plumage and an iridescent blue-green sheen on the wings and tail. It inhabits open country with scattered trees, riparian woodlands, and suburban areas from Alaska south to California and east to the Great Plains. It is omnivorous, feeding on carrion, insects, fruits, seeds, and small vertebrates.