ravens
1. Bird Name
The bird species ravens carry the English name “Common Raven.” The scientific (Latin) name is “Corvus corax.”
2. Appearance
Common Ravens are entirely black—right down to their legs, eyes, and beaks. Regardless of the angle of light, the gloss and flamboyance of their feathers usually give a purple-blue luster. Their plumage is thick and shaggy around the throat, with relatively water-resistant feathers. Unfortunately, no significant identifiable differences in the physical appearance between male and female ravens exist.
3. Size
The full-grown Common Raven is one of the world’s heaviest species of passerines, typically measuring 54-67 cm (21-26 in) from the beak to tail. The average wingspan can range from 115 to 130 cm (45-51 in). The weight differs between sexes, with males being heftier at 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs), and females averaging at 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs).
4. Habitat & Distribution
Ravens are cosmopolitan birds found across various parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Northern Africa. Although adaptable to diverse landscapes—ranging from Arctic tundra to desert—they mostly prefer forested areas, coastal cliffs, and high mountainous regions.
5. Interesting Facts
Ravens have a deep cultural significance in various societies, often symbolizing wisdom and mystery in Nordic and Celtic mythology, while conversely perceived as a sign of ill omen or trickery in other cultures. Furthermore, they are known for their remarkable problem-solving skills and the ability to use tools, establishing them among the smartest of bird species. Ravens are also remarkable mimics and can imitate human speech and other sounds in their environment.
6. Diet
Ravens are ominously omnivorous. The panoply of their diet ranges from fruits, nuts, and seeds to insects, rodents, grains, and at times, other birds. They are proficient scavengers, often spotted feeding on carcasses and leftovers from predators.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Noted for their playful behavior, ravens often engage in aerobatic displays, such as somersaults or playing with objects by dropping and catching them mid-flight. They are known for their complex social dynamics and often form pairs that last a lifetime. The raven’s vocalizations are varied but highly distinctive. The most common is a deep, reverberating croak.
8. Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies the Common Raven as ‘Least Concern,’ discriminating its substantial global population to be stable and increasing in some areas due to its adaptability to human-modified landscapes.
9. Lifespan
Common Ravens are incredibly hearty, with a lifespan typically extending up to 10-15 years in the wild. In captivity, under good care, they can live for approximately 20 years or even more.
10. Additional Notes
In other languages, the raven goes by a variety of names; “rabe” in German, “corbeau” in French, or “cuervo” in Spanish. They play a crucial role in their ecosystems, especially as scavengers, assisting nature’s clean-up crew. Their interactions with humans are diverse, ranging from adverse pest control interactions to their higher cognitive abilities, making them popular in research and folklore.
