Crows or ravens - a matter of a pinion
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340019)
Rockingham, Australia
December 9, 2018 2:14am CST
What Australians call a ‘crow’ is actually a raven (Corvus coronoides). It is 46–53 centimetres (18–21 in) in length and basically all black with an iridescent sheen to the upper parts.
There is an Australian crow, also known as the Torresian crow (Corvus orru). The latter is only found in the northern parts of the country. The raven has throat hackles which help distinguish it from the other crow species. Now the pinions, for all intents and purposes are the large flight feathers in the wings. And the rest of this discussion in tongue-in-cheek and not to be believed.
The raven has five pinions in each wing and the crow has six. So the true difference between the two is a matter of a pinion! (a pinion = opinion). Are you groaning? 
25 people like this
30 responses
@LadyDuck (471508)
• Switzerland
9 Dec 18
Ravens always travel in pairs, crows in groups. I do not know about the five pinion in each wing (different to spot), but looking at the tale it is a lot easier. A crow's tail is shaped like a fan, while the raven's tail is wedge-shaped. We call both "corvo".
3 people like this
@BearArtistLady (6037)
• United States
10 Dec 18
@JudyEv you have my warped sense of humor...I loved the joke. We have crows. You can tell them because of their yellow bill. The bird in your picture has a black bill. I don't notice the tails much as when I look they tend to squirt!
3 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
9 Dec 18
No, just smiling it is a matter of pinion or opinion whatever you wish.
Crows are very smart and will talk back to you sometimes.
Thanks did not know about their o-pinions or pinions though have taken note.
2 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
9 Dec 18
@JudyEv
We have crows and ravens and they can seem so alike.
Ravens used to live in the Castle walls a lot before.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 They have ravens in the Tower of London don't they?
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@snowy22315 (180723)
• United States
9 Dec 18
I do believe there are slight differences between the two. I think raven's are a bit larger.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Dec 18
Hmmmm, I wish I were witty and could think of one @JudyEv
Would you believe I have only seen crows once in my life? It wasn't around here though, I was with mom at a lake a few decades ago and saw some .... I've never seen a raven or at least not to my knowledge.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Dec 18
LOL.
We have the black crows here, everywhere.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 18
I don't like them at all. They are sneaky and cowardly birds.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
9 Dec 18
We also have this endemic bird that I don't know if its raven or dove but our locals call it barok, a kind of wild dove with red beak and red linings in the eyes
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 18
Wow, that's some bird. We don't really have anything like that here. Not that I've seen anyway. We do have doves but they don't really look like yours.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
10 Dec 18
The birds usually live along the coastal area
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121586)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec 18
Good one Judy! I was going to correct you on your misspelling in your title, but glad I read the full discussion first!
Whether ravens or crows, they annoy me greatly, and they're always scaring away the pretty song birds.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121586)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec 18
@JudyEv I've never heard them referred to as anything other than crows here. But I think in our more northern states, you'll hear people refer to ravens quite a bit. I don't think I've heard anyone here in Florida refer to a black bird a raven. Like you said, everyone just says crows.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
10 Dec 18
The Raven: Classic poem.
The Crow: One of my all-time favorite movies.
Gotta go with the crow!
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@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 18
@teamfreak16 My Mum loved all the old poetry and had learnt of a lot of the classics at school. Some she could remember well into her 100s - she got to 104. I did up a book of her favourites and we'd read them to her. Often we'd just get started and she'd take over reciting them. I hope I haven't told you all this before. 
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (9445)
• India
10 Dec 18
I never knew in my whole life that raven is different from crows!
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@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 18
@anya12adwi It's always nice to be able to boast in front of your brother. 
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@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
10 Dec 18
we call it gagak, both for crow or raven
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@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 18
English sometimes seems to have a lot of words for more or less the same thing.
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
10 Dec 18
@JudyEv yes, for example, hawk, eagle, and falcon, we call of them "elang" no matter. but in javasanese, we some times have more than 5 words for 1 things or actvities.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
11 Dec 18
Quite close observation. And initially I thought that you are using Pinion as a short form of Opinion.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 18
The pinion bit isn't true but it provides the pun so you can the title either way.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 18
Our crows can be noisy too. Each one has a distinctive 'voice' it seems.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Dec 18
Hahaha, I love that... I heard about the difference, but who is going to count the pinions to see if it is a crow or raven..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 18
It seems most countries have their crows and ravens.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 18
We have dozens of them. They are quite a nuisance in some areas.
