Raven vs crow tails. Crows have fan-shaped tails with more squared feather tips, whereas ravens have wedge-shaped tails with slightly pointed feather tips. When a raven is flying, ...

Bird tails are complex structures that give us clues about bird flight and bird behavior. Knowing the variety of tail patterns helps us to identify birds, so let's talk bird tails.

Crow tail feathers are all the same length and will spread out like a fan. A raven’s tail feathers are longer in the center and, when the bird is in flight, take on a wedge or diamond shape.

Bird tails tell tales that help us clinch a bird’s identification. The tail’s shape and hues, as well as the way the bird holds its tail, are identifying characteristics.

A test of starling's tails in a wind tunnel suggests that the standard practice of extrapolating bird tail aerodynamics from delta-wing aircraft may be a mistake.

The crows make several types of hooks and saw-edged probes from twigs and leaves. They use the tools to work insects out of hard-to-reach places ( SN: 3/22/03, p. 182 ).