Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Black-billed Magpie vs Common Raven
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
Common Raven
Common Raven • Wikimedia Commons
Common Raven
Common Raven • Wikimedia Commons
Common Raven
Common Raven • Wikimedia Commons
Common Raven
Common Raven • Wikimedia Commons
Black-billed Magpie vs Common Raven (Pica hudsonia vs Corvus corax): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two big western corvids that share the wide-open West. Three rules:
- Color: black-and-white = magpie; entirely black = raven.
- Size: slim and jay-bodied = magpie; huge, hawk-sized = raven.
- Voice: nasal chattering = magpie; deep, resonant croaks = raven.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The white-flashing magpie and the giant black raven, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Black-billed Magpie | Common Raven |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pica hudsonia | Corvus corax |
| Length KEY | 19 in (48 cm) including the long tail | 24–27 in (61–69 cm) |
| Wingspan | 24 in (61 cm) | 45–51 in (115–130 cm) |
| Weight | 5.1–7.4 oz (145–210 g) | 1.5–4.4 lb (0.7–2.0 kg) |
| Overall Shape | Large pied corvid with an extremely long, iridescent tail | Huge all-black corvid with a wedge-shaped tail |
| Male Plumage KEY | Black head, breast and back; white belly and shoulder patches; wings and long tail flash green-blue iridescence (sexes alike) | Entirely black, glossy, with shaggy throat feathers and a massive bill (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, averaging slightly smaller | Identical to the male, averaging smaller |
| Bill Shape | Stout, all-black | Massive, heavy, slightly curved black bill |
| Tail | Extremely long, graduated, iridescent green-purple | Distinctly wedge-shaped in flight |
| Core Range KEY | The West — Great Plains to the Rockies, Great Basin and Alaska — in open country, ranches and riversides | Mountains, deserts and forests of the West and far North; expanding east |
| Migration | Non-migratory resident | Non-migratory |
| Feeder Presence | Bold at rural feeders: suet, meat scraps, pet food and carrion | Rare at feeders; visits rural platforms for meat scraps, eggs and carrion |
| Favorite Foods | Omnivore — insects, carrion, eggs, seeds, fruit and scraps | Carrion, small animals, grain, fruit, refuse |
| Song KEY | No true song — a medley of calls | A deep, resonant “kraaak” and an astonishing range of croaks and knocks |
| Flight Call | A harsh “mag-mag-mag” and a whining “maa” | Deep croaks far lower than any crow |
| Population Trend | Stable across its western range | Stable and expanding into new areas |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
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.
Common Raven — Male
Corvus corax
- Twice the bulk of a crow; wedge tail in flight.
- Shaggy throat hackles; massive bill.
- Soars like a hawk — crows rarely soar.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
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.
Common Raven — Female
Corvus corax
- Identical to the male.
- Pairs mate for life and soar together.
- Deep croaking calls carry for a mile.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Black-billed Magpie | Common Raven |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Black with white belly and shoulder patches | Entirely black |
| Size | 19 in but slim — half the weight of a raven | 24 in, 2.6 lb — hawk-sized |
| Tail | Extremely long, iridescent | Wedge-shaped in flight |
| Bill | Stout, black | Massive, with shaggy throat hackles |
| Flight | Floppy, tail streaming | Soaring, acrobatic barrel rolls |
| Diet | Insects, carrion, eggs, pet food | Anything — carrion to live prey |
| Voice | Nasal “mag-mag-mag” | Deep croaks, gurgles and knocks |
Song & Call Comparison
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
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Voice: deep resonant kraaak, croaks, knocks, and even mimicry.
Flight display: pairs roll and tumble while croaking.
Common Raven voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Black-billed Magpie lives in open rangeland, river bottoms and western towns, building domed stick nests in shrubs and trees.
The Common Raven owns wild country — mountains, desert, forest and coast — plus wilderness-edge towns. Both patrol western roads for carrion, side by side.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Black-billed Magpie: suet, meat scraps, peanuts and pet food on platforms.
- Common Raven: roadkill, garbage and large scraps — a rural feeder only in wild areas.
- Caution: both learn feeders fast; secure trash and pet food if you do not want permanent residents.
- Water: both drink and bathe at ground-level water.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Black-billed Magpies are bold gossips — chattering in loose flocks, strutting with tail raised, teasing dogs.
Common Ravens are brilliant and playful — aerial barrel rolls, snow slides, and problem-solving that matches any primate.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Color. Black-and-white = magpie; all black = raven.
- Size. Slim jay-body = magpie; hawk-sized = raven.
- Tail. Extremely long = magpie; wedge = raven.
- Voice. Nasal chatter = magpie; deep croak = raven.
- Flight. Floppy with streaming tail = magpie; soaring = raven.
- Flocks. Loose chattering groups = magpies; ravens travel alone or in pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Black-billed Magpie from a Common Raven?
The magpie is slim, black-and-white, with an extremely long iridescent tail. The raven is entirely black, hawk-sized, with a wedge-shaped tail and a massive bill.
Which is bigger?
The Common Raven, by far — 24 inches and about 2.6 pounds, roughly twice the weight of the slim 19-inch magpie, much of which is tail.
Do magpies and ravens get along?
They share carcasses warily — magpies dart in to steal scraps while ravens dominate. Magpies also mob ravens to drive them from nesting areas.
Are these birds really that smart?
Yes — both are corvids. Ravens solve multi-step puzzles and plan ahead; magpies pass the mirror self-recognition test, a rarity outside primates.
Do ravens come to feeders?
Rarely in suburbs — they prefer wild country and will take meat scraps and garbage in rural areas. Magpies are the regular platform-feeder visitors of the two.
What do their calls sound like?
Magpies give nasal, chattering “mag-mag-mag” calls. Ravens produce deep croaks, resonant gurgles, knocking sounds and a wide vocabulary of other notes.
Key Takeaways
- Color: Black-white = magpie; all black = raven.
- Size: Slim = magpie; hawk-sized = raven.
- Tail: Extremely long = magpie; wedge = raven.
- Voice: Nasal chatter = magpie; deep croaks = raven.
- Flight: Floppy = magpie; soaring acrobat = raven.
- Feeders: Magpie = regular; raven = wild country only.