ExploreBird

Common Raven

Corvus corax

The Common Raven is a large, black bird known for its intelligence. They are playful and often seen flying in pairs or groups.

Habitat: Forests, mountains, and open areas

Appearance

The Common Raven is a large, all-black bird with glossy iridescent plumage, often showing purple or blue sheens. It has a thick, heavy beak and a distinct wedge-shaped tail, distinguishing it from smaller, fan-tailed crows.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyCorvidaeGenusCorvus

Common Raven

Interesting facts

A group of ravens has the unique and spooky name "an unkindness."

Ravens can recognize individual human faces and remember how they treated them!

Ravens often hide extra food for later using their amazing memory.

They mate for life, often pairing up for over 20 years!

Special abilities

Common Ravens can figure out how to get tricky food rewards because of their high intelligence.

Common Ravens have been observed using pebbles and sticks as tools to access food sources.

Common Ravens can remember the locations of many hidden food caches thanks to their excellent memory.

Measurements & details

Length: 54-67 cm
Wingspan: 115-150 cm
Weight: 0.69-2 kg
Lifespan: 10-21 years
Top Speed: 63 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-7
Incubation: 18-21 days

Diet & Feeding

A smart omnivore, the Common Raven eats almost anything from tiny insects to large carrion.

Primary Foods

carrion
insects
berries
small mammals
eggs
human discards

Foraging Method

Scavenging

Ecological connections

eats

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Consumes carrion, helping to clean up the environment.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Eggs and young are prey for large raptors like this owl.

symbiotic with

Grey wolf

Canis lupus

Follows wolves to scavenge leftovers from their hunts.

hunts

Eastern Grey Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Preys on eggs and nestlings of other birds and small mammals.

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Scavenger

Meet nature's clean-up crew! These important animals help keep the environment tidy by eating what other animals have left behind or things that have passed away.

Singing

Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature's singers! These animals use their voices to attract friends, mark their territory, or even warn others.

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!