# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 163 - **Habitat:** Forests, mountains, and open areas - **Also known as:** Raven ![Common Raven](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424378/objects/4547.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Corvus ## 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 - **Clever Problem Solvers:** Common Ravens can figure out how to get tricky food rewards because of their high intelligence. - **Skillful Tool Users:** Common Ravens have been observed using pebbles and sticks as tools to access food sources. - **Spatial Memory Masters:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Consumes carrion, helping to clean up the environment. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Ravens are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. It's best to let them be in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Raven? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Raven? 54-67 cm ### What is Common Raven's wingspan? 115-150 cm ### How much does Common Raven weigh? 0.69-2 kg ### How long does Common Raven live? 10-21 years ### How fast can Common Raven move? 63 km/h ### What does Common Raven eat? A smart omnivore, the Common Raven eats almost anything from tiny insects to large carrion. ### Where is Common Raven usually found? Forests, mountains, and open areas ## Where to spot - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Common Raven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-raven) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Raven: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-raven)