Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
American Crow vs Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
American Crow • Wikimedia Commons
American Crow
American Crow • Wikimedia Commons
American Crow
American Crow • Wikimedia Commons
American Crow
American Crow • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed Magpie • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed Magpie • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed Magpie • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed Magpie • Wikimedia Commons
American Crow vs Black-billed Magpie (Corvus brachyrhynchos vs Pica hudsonia): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two bold western scavengers that could not look more different. Three rules:
- Color: entirely black = American Crow; black body with white belly and shoulder patches = Black-billed Magpie.
- Tail: short squared fan = crow; an iridescent tail longer than the body = magpie.
- Range: the magpie is a bird of the West — Great Plains to the Rockies and Alaska — while the crow is nearly everywhere.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
Crow vs magpie, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | American Crow | Black-billed Magpie |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Pica hudsonia |
| Length KEY | 17.5 in (45 cm) | 19 in (48 cm) including the long tail |
| Wingspan | 36–39 in (91–100 cm) | 24 in (61 cm) |
| Weight | 11–21 oz (320–600 g) | 5.1–7.4 oz (145–210 g) |
| Overall Shape | Large all-black songbird with a fan-shaped tail | Large pied corvid with an extremely long, iridescent tail |
| Male Plumage KEY | Entirely black with a slight gloss; stout black bill (sexes alike) | Black head, breast and back; white belly and shoulder patches; wings and long tail flash green-blue iridescence (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, averaging slightly smaller | Identical to the male, averaging slightly smaller |
| Bill Shape | Stout, straight, all-black bill | Stout, all-black |
| Tail KEY | Squared to slightly rounded fan tail | Extremely long, graduated, iridescent green-purple |
| Core Range KEY | Nearly the entire US and southern Canada; cities, farms, woods and shores | The West — Great Plains to the Rockies, Great Basin and Alaska — in open country, ranches and riversides |
| Migration | Mostly resident; northern birds shift south in winter roosts | Non-migratory resident |
| Feeder Presence | Takes cracked corn, peanuts, eggs and table scraps from platforms | Bold at rural feeders: suet, meat scraps, pet food and carrion |
| Favorite Foods | Omnivore: grain, insects, carrion, eggs, fruit, refuse | Omnivore — insects, carrion, eggs, seeds, fruit and scraps |
| Song | The familiar loud “caw-caw-caw” | No true song — a medley of calls |
| Flight Call | Varied caws; also rattles and knocks | A harsh “mag-mag-mag” and a whining “maa” |
| Population Trend | Common and adaptable; numbers fluctuate with West Nile virus cycles | Stable across its western range |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
American Crow — Male
Corvus brachyrhynchos
- All black with a squared fan tail.
- Steady rowing wingbeats in flight.
- Familiar loud “caw-caw”.
Black-billed Magpie — Male
Pica hudsonia
- Pied black-and-white body with a very long iridescent tail.
- White shoulder patches flash in flight.
- All-black bill separates it from any western jay.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
American Crow — Female
Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Identical to the male.
- Family groups cooperatively raise young.
- Gathers in huge winter roosts.
Black-billed Magpie — Female
Pica hudsonia
- Identical to the male.
- Pairs build huge domed stick nests in shrubs and trees.
- Walks the ground with tail cocked, flipping cow pies for insects.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
A study in contrasts, part by part:
| Body Part | American Crow | Black-billed Magpie |
|---|---|---|
| Body Color | Entirely black | Black head, breast and back; white belly and shoulders |
| Tail | Squared fan | Extremely long, graduated, flashing green-purple iridescence |
| Wings | All black | Black with white patches, iridescent blue-green |
| Bill | Stout, all-black | Stout, all-black — the “black bill” of the name |
| Size | 17.5 in | 19 in, but more than half of it is tail |
| Flight | Steady rowing wingbeats | Buoyant, tail streaming behind |
| Nest | Open stick cup in a tree | Huge domed stick fortress with side entrances |
Song & Call Comparison
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Voice: the familiar loud caw-caw-caw, plus rattles and imitations.
Behavior: mobbing calls assemble the neighborhood against owls and hawks.
American Crow voice • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
Voice: a harsh mag-mag-mag and a nasal, whining maa.
Behavior: noisy at carcasses and roosts; quiet when raiding nests.
Black-billed Magpie voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The American Crow lives nearly everywhere in the US and southern Canada — cities, farms, forests and shores.
The Black-billed Magpie is western: open country, ranches and riverside groves from the Great Plains through the Rockies and Great Basin to Alaska. In western towns the two are constant companions at roadkill, landfills and feeders.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- American Crow: platform scavenger — cracked corn, peanuts, eggs and scraps on a learned schedule.
- Black-billed Magpie: bolder still at rural feeders — suet, meat scraps, pet food and carrion; walks the ground with its tail cocked high.
- Best foods: meat scraps, eggs and corn attract both; secure trash cans, because both are expert raiders.
- Behavior clue: the magpie flips dried cow pies and probes manure for insects; the crow methodically patrols and caches.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
American Crows are wary, social and schedule-driven — family groups by day, huge communal roosts at dusk in winter.
Black-billed Magpies are brash, curious and acquisitive — they investigate anything new, harry predators in loose mobs, and gather in noisy evening roosts of their own.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Color. All black = crow; pied black-and-white = magpie.
- Tail. Short fan = crow; tail longer than the body = magpie.
- Iridescence. Slight gloss = crow; green-blue-purple flashes = magpie.
- Flight profile. Compact and rowing = crow; buoyant with a streaming tail = magpie.
- Voice. “Caw-caw” = crow; harsh “mag-mag” and whining “maa” = magpie.
- Nest. Open cup = crow; a huge domed stick fortress = magpie.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an American Crow from a Black-billed Magpie?
Crows are entirely black with a short squared tail. Magpies are pied — black body with white belly and shoulder patches — with an iridescent tail longer than the body itself.
Where do Black-billed Magpies live?
The West — open country from the Great Plains through the Rockies and Great Basin to Alaska. American Crows live nearly everywhere in North America.
Are magpies and crows related?
Yes — both are corvids, sharing the family’s famous intelligence, omnivory and social complexity. The magpie is essentially the West’s pied cousin of the crow and jay.
Which is bigger, a crow or a magpie?
In total length the magpie edges the crow at about 19 inches versus 17.5 — but more than half of the magpie’s length is tail. The crow is the heavier, bulkier bird.
Do magpies come to feeders?
Yes, boldly, in rural western areas — suet, meat scraps, pet food and carrion. They walk the ground with tails cocked and will investigate anything new in a yard.
What is the magpie’s nest like?
A huge domed fortress of sticks with side entrances, built by the pair in a shrub or tree — one of the most elaborate nests of any North American bird. Crows build simple open stick cups.
Key Takeaways
- Color: All black = crow; pied black-and-white = magpie.
- Tail: Short fan = crow; body-length iridescent streamer = magpie.
- Range: Magpie = the West; crow = nearly everywhere.
- Voice: “Caw” = crow; “mag-mag” and whining = magpie.
- Nest: Domed stick fortress = magpie; open cup = crow.
- Both Corvids: Smart, bold scavengers — just dressed very differently.