Who's Smarter, a Raven or a Crow?

Here's another question I get asked a lot, in both the field and on YouTube. This is just a short simple answer based on my personal experience with each of the birds in the wild. But perhaps it will also demonstrate why I have much richer relationships with ravens, than I do with crows.

WARNING - At the end, I mention something about the birds being raised like pets. Most of my info comes from older people (like myself) who actually had ravens and crows as pets before it became illegal in 1972 (when both were added to the Migratory Bird Act.) Understand, I personally would like to see some provision or amendment to this law allowing people to have ravens and crows as pets again, but as of yet the only thing you seem to be able to legally do in someplace like the USA, is to get an "African Brown Raven" or and "African Pied Crow" from a breeder. Last I looked they cost about $1500 to $2,000 per bird. I don't recommend one goes and gets a rehabber license just to raise a raven or a crow. You are not supposed to treat the bird like a pet (why I don't know it seems in-human seeing how these birds rely on relationships) and the paperwork and responsibilities yon have for other animals would make it quite a bit of work.

Hope you enjoy the video, as always you are more than welcome to comment and I especially encourage anyone with personal experience to share theirs! Thanks!

[branni]

Both species of birds are highly intelligent. None smarter than another. They are just different. One thing is for certain are smarter than most people.

[Phoenix]

I agree they are both highly intelligent. My personal take is that ravens are better educated and more book smart. They probably do better on IQ and reading tests than crows. People quote ravens. Crows might be a little more street-smart. :)

[DamianDeEu]

I feel like this channel is gonna make me obsessed about the birds!

[Pincer]

Yet another nice video, thanks!


I'm not certain about the American crow, but European species tend to have life long male-female relationships as well, just like ravens. They too are very nurturing (I've seen a pair of crows chasing away cats from a chick that fell off the nest for weeks and feeding it in turns) and even cooperate between different species of crows.


Back in the park, behind my house, there's a large, mixed colony. It's impossible to count all of them, but having counted their nests, I arrived at some 131 nests times an average of 4 inhabitants = over 520 individuals. Every evening in autumn, just before the sun sets, they fly out and behave like a cloud of starlings, moving in almost perfect unison as if performing a collective dance. It seems to me they enjoy this thoroughly, judging by the sound of their exited cries. It seems to be a ritual of sorts to re-establish relationships within the large group.


A friend of mine had a tamed crow (corvus monedula), called Garett (Gerrit in Dutch), which stayed with him about three years. At a certain moment he found a mate, as he was free to fly wherever he wanted to, and went about his own business. But he returned every now and then and brought his family with him. As he had a bright yellow ring on his claws, we could recognise him. Garett could also mimic certain words and sounds. I recall he imitated the laugh of my friends grandma, which was hilarious. She once asked: "Do I really sound like that when I laugh?" Since then, she dared not to laugh as loud anymore....


Just to share a bit from the other side of the pond. Keep it up, I really enjoy your videos.

[joshuatamisford]

Well, I don’t have personal experience with ravens because they are not in my area. But I can say that I have never in my 62 years of life ever seen a crow dead on a road or highway. I have seen hawks and owls and sadly a variety of other birds including some that I have inadvertently killed myself but never a crow. They are just too intelligent and aware thankfully.

[smandin]

I usually see my crows playing with the Ravens that came into the area. They will chase each other for a good half hour, in circles. For people who can't tell the difference, when you see them flying together, their size difference is obvious.

[strangewayfaringstranger]

The ravens where I live always take the lids off the trashcans. I live out in So Cal. I honestly don't know how they lift those haha.

[petergoodwin]

Most beautiful and intelligent birds ive ever seen. Looked after an injured Australian raven, he was almost human. I still miss him, what he did amazed me.

[user]

Europeean Crows and Ravens are way different. Way different. The common Mag-Pie, different as well. Not for the bad, just different.

[blkbeltmage]

Crows also mate for life and have territories. There’s a mated pair that feeds from my yard, they guard it from crows they don’t know, and let crows they grew up with come.

[tammy]

Both Crows and Ravens are totallu amazing birds and such a joy. ☺☺❤❤

[tomtalker]

There both Corvids which comprise of; Ravens Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Rooks, Magpies, & Nutcrackers. So it's rather "subjective" too say which of the two family members is smarter then the other. As they are ALL highly intelligent in there own way. However, i'd give the edge to Ravens though since i've been in the avian field now for the better part of 30yrs. And have worked "hands on" with everything from Warblers to Birds of Prey. With Corvids being my favorite family of birds to work with.

[liliaaaaaaaa]

The crows in my neighbourhood live as couples with some youngsters around. The couples each have their own area by day but all roost in the big conifer trees at night. I think environment definitely influences behaviour. My neighbourly crows are like family now they visit me every morning and perform aerial displays for me but it took me 6 months of feeding for them to get to know me and trust me.
There's a tree with some ravens and rooks nesting nearby too but I just literally walked too close, they all circled above me screaming at me until I vacated the area. I think how many there are and how chill they are, just depends, just like humans. I live in UK btw..

[alexislauren]

Thank you for this video!! What a delight to learn what you've experienced ☺️

[Sheilawisz]

Hello! What a great video, thanks! I very much agree with you: Ravens and crows are incredibly intelligent creatures, but ravens are somehow more intelligent than crows. I love both species equally, anyway! This may sound strange, but I am sure that I was a raven, and a crow too, in past lives. It's funnier to be a crow, but it's deeper to be a raven. Cheers!

[tamarrajames]

Thank you for this one, thoroughly enjoyed it. I have noticed that Ravens have some group ritualized behaviours, while crows have others. I think of crows as teenagers, where ravens seem more mature. They make and use tools, solve multiple part problems with ease, teach their young to recognize “bad” people, and vocalist on a wide range of sounds. I think they might both be smarter than us. This post made me happy...thanks again.🖤🇨🇦

[Pincer]

Anyway, as always you are doing a great job and I can't thank you enough for these marvellous videos. They really are a pleasure to watch.

[wyomingadventures]

Highly intelligent! I love both but len in the raven side. Great video!

[darkwolf]

I tend to think of Ravens and Crows more like introverts and extroverts. Though the mid-west couple and gang banger thing is kind of hilarious. Like you I prefer ravens, but I must say that crow have really grown on me.... I also really like Scrub Jays a lot, but my Scrub Jay family that had been frequenting my back yard seem to have disappeared.

[HexedVampyre]

When you spend times with these birds do you name them and associate them with personalities like most people with cats and dogs?