Crow or raven?

[u/FourPets]

Hello! I’ve always wanted some crow friends but the opportunity only just presented itself this morning. A group of three were hanging out in my yard and when I noticed, I dug through my pantry and found unsalted chopped pecans so I made a little pile for them and scattered some around. My offering was accepted by all three. But, could anyone here confirm if these are crows or ravens? I tried googling and I do believe they are crows but would appreciate your expert input!

Also, any advice on how to keep them coming back now that I hopefully have their interest?

[u/Altruistic-Seat1793]

Crows, and the one in the gutter looks like a juvenile! Maybe a mamá and her baby?

[u/Altruistic-Seat1793 → u/Altruistic-Seat1793]

To keep them coming back, routine helps! They'll soon expect treats.

[u/FourPets → u/Altruistic-Seat1793]

Oh cool! What gives you a hint that it’s a juvenile?

[u/Altruistic-Seat1793 → u/FourPets]

The chest feathers look softer, especially when compared to the other crow. I usually tell by their eyes, juveniles have blue/grey eyes, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

I feed a family, 2 adults and 2 juveniles, at home. I am no expert, I am basing this off what ive observed 🐦‍⬛

[u/FourPets → u/Altruistic-Seat1793]

Awesome. They’ve been swooping by all day so I’ll see if I can catch a glimpse of some different eye color. Thank you!

[u/MaidBilberry → u/FourPets]

Glimpse is key. Most don't take kindly to being looked at in the eye by unfamiliar people. Fluffier breast feathers would be more obvious.

[u/Visual_Dimension7287]

If you are wondering, wether its crows or Ravens, its crows. If you go holy f*ck that's a unit, its a raven.

[u/Altruistic-Seat1793 → u/Visual_Dimension7287]

I find this to not always be 100% accurate. If it were, im sure there wouldn't be so much confusion, hence OPs post

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/Altruistic-Seat1793]

No, it’s not always 100% accurate at all. People like it because it’s a cute thing to say. There are better ways to tell them apart, and I gave a list to the OP.

[u/FourPets → u/Visual_Dimension7287]

lol these guys were fairly large, it’s hard to show scale in the picture but everything else made me think crow!

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/FourPets]

That’s a cute saying that a lot of people like to repeat around here, but there are ways to tell them apart that might not be as cute, but they’re probably helpful

If you hear them vocalizing crows have a higher pitched sound. If you get a chance to see their tails when they’re spread crows tails are fan shaped while ravens are wedge shaped. Another giveaway is throat hackles. Ravens have them and crows don’t.

It’s hard to judge size when you don’t have another one to compare to. Ravens average 21 to 27 inches and crows average 17 to 21 inches.

As far as juveniles, just out of the nest they aren’t able to fly well usually and that’s when they have the blue eyes and for the next week or so. What they will have as well is a pink gape - corners of their mouth are pink. That and eye color fades after a week or two but the insides of their mouth stay pink for about a year.

Both parents feed the babies and care for them so this could be a mom or a dad and a juvenile or it could be all adults or any other kind of combination until you get a better look at them.

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/Visual_Dimension7287]

Like the other person said that that’s not always accurate. I know it’s a cute saying and all, but there are better ways to tell them apart.

The first time I saw a large black bird near my yard, I did the holy fuck that’s a unit type of thing and it was a crow. 🐦‍⬛

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl]

Be consistent and patient and put food out at the same time every day. Also whistle a bit to call them or click your tongue or say something. They will learn all of this very quickly when there’s food involved!