ID-ing any bird as it passes by is almost impossible. There's lots of big black birds so saying Crow is a long shot. Likewise the gull family is extensive so Sea Gull (a species not recognised in science) is an even longer shot.
Feathers have a unique pattern under the microscope, DNA technology for avians has progressed hugely, so samples can be identified with some certainty these days.
Bird radar scanning in the x- band has shown night activity previously not revealed. So, if you are unlucky enough to whack something at altitude, not squeamish and able to collect enough debris I recommend sending it to a lab for id. You could then at least know what hit you and maybe help advance understanding of the species behaviour.
I've heard the UK CAA are about to start a publicity campaign on just this subject, too.
Sir George Cayley