Compare · Corvids
Raven vs Magpie
Common Raven Corvus corax vs Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
[science] Ravens and magpies are both corvids but differ dramatically. The raven is very large and all-black; the magpie is much smaller, boldly pied (black and white), and has a distinctive very long tail. In the field, the two are not easily confused — size, pattern, and tail shape make them immediately separable.
At a Glance
| Feature | Common Raven | Eurasian Magpie |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 56–69 cm | 44–46 cm (inc. tail) |
| Weight | 700–1,600 g | 200–250 g |
| Wingspan | 115–150 cm | 52–62 cm |
| Plumage | All black (iridescent) | Black and white; iridescent green-blue on wings and tail |
| Tail | Wedge-shaped | Very long, graduated — accounts for ~50% of total length |
| Bill | Massive, curved | Moderate, straight |
| Call | Deep "kronk-kronk" | Harsh rattling "chak-chak-chak" |
| Flight | Powerful, soaring; slow wingbeats | Weak, flapping; rarely soars |
| Habitat | Mountains, boreal forest, coast, moorland | Open country, woodland edge, suburban areas |
Size
[science] The size difference is dramatic:
- A Common Raven weighs 700–1,600 g — 3–8 times the weight of a magpie (200–250 g)
- The raven's wingspan (115–150 cm) is roughly double the magpie's (52–62 cm)
- The magpie's apparent length (44–46 cm) is similar to some measurements of smaller ravens, but most of the magpie's length is tail — the body is much smaller
In the field, the size difference is immediately obvious when both species are in view together.1
Plumage
[science]
- Common Raven: Entirely black with strong oil-green and blue-purple iridescence; throat hackles prominent in adults
- Eurasian Magpie: Bold black-and-white — white belly, white shoulder patches visible in flight; wings and tail show strong iridescent blue-green; unmistakable pattern
There is no plumage confusion possible between these species. The magpie's bold pied pattern is unique among common European corvids.1
Tail Shape
[science] Tail shape is a defining feature of both species in flight:
- Raven: Wedge-shaped or diamond-shaped tail — the central feathers extend beyond the outer feathers. Key identification feature separating ravens from crows.
- Magpie: Very long, strongly graduated tail — the central feathers are much longer than the outer ones, tapering to a point. This tail accounts for roughly half the bird's total length and is often used in display.
Shared Features as Corvids
[science] Both species are highly intelligent corvids with shared cognitive abilities:
- Both show advanced problem-solving, food caching, and social learning
- Magpies are the only non-mammal species known to pass the mirror self-recognition test (Prior et al. 2008 — though this finding has been contested)
- Both species are omnivorous generalists; magpies have a broadly similar diet breadth to ravens but at a smaller scale
- Both show the "shiny object" association in folk tradition — but experimental evidence for either species specifically preferring shiny objects is weak (Shephard et al. 2014)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a raven and a magpie?
Ravens and magpies are both corvids but are easily told apart. Ravens are very large (56–69 cm, 700–1600 g), all-black, with a wedge-shaped tail and massive bill. Eurasian Magpies are much smaller (44–46 cm, 200–250 g), boldly patterned in black and white with a very long graduated tail accounting for half their total length. They are not easily confused in the field.
Sources
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1994). Crows and Jays. Christopher Helm. — species accounts for both Common Raven and Eurasian Magpie.
- Prior, H., Schwarz, A. & Güntürkün, O. (2008). Mirror-induced behaviour in the magpie (Pica pica): evidence of self-recognition. PLOS Biology, 6(8), e202. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060202
[science] field-guide and peer-reviewed data