In heraldry, crows, rooks, and ravens are not distinguished from each other. As with all birds that are not eagles, a crow or raven is depicted by default as close, but they can uniquely be blazoned as speaking. Crows may also be called corbies, as in the canting arms of Corbet. [1]
The Cornish chough is also depicted in heraldry, which looks similar but has a red beak and feet. Anciently, the Cornish chough is sometimes called a beckit. [2] [1] On the coat of arms of County Dublin and Fingal in Ireland, the crow was adapted from the raven banner of the Vikings, who had settled in the area. [3] [4] Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and Wagga Wagga, Australia have crows in their coats-of-arms. [5] [6]
The Hungarian family Hunyadi also used the raven in their coats of arms. [7] Matthias Corvinus of Hungary named his famous library ( Bibliotheca Corviniana) after the bird. It might have inspired the uniform and name of his mercenary army ( Black Army of Hungary), and his illegitimate son, János Corvinus also wore the bird's name.[ citation needed]
The Corbet (Corbel, Corby, Corbe) family from the Channel Islands are also names having been corrupted over time from the Latin word corvus, for raven. [8]