Raven
The Common Raven, also known as the Northern Raven or simply as the Raven, is a large passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae. There are considered to be 8 to 11 geographical sub-species. The closest relatives of the Raven are the Brown-necked Raven found in north Africa and the Middle East, the Pied Crow found from sub-Saharan Africa down to south Africa and the Chihuahuan Raven found in south west and mid west USA and north Mexico.
The adult Raven ranges from 21 inches to 26 inches in length with a wingspan of 45 to 51 inches. Recorded weights range from 1.5 to 4.5 pounds making the Raven one of the heaviest passerines. Birds from colder regions are generally larger and heavier compared with those from warmer regions. The Raven has a mostly black iridescent plumage. The bill is large and slightly curved and it is one of the largest bills amongst passerines. It has a longish, strongly graduated tail at 8 to 10.5 inches. The throat feathers are elongated and pointed and the base of the neck feathers are pale brownish-grey. Juvenile plumage is similar but duller.
Apart from its greater size, the Raven differs from other crows by having a larger and heavier black beak, shaggy feathers around the throat and above the beak and a wedge-shaped tail. Flying Ravens are distinguished from crows by their tail shape, larger wing area and more stable soaring style which generally involves less wing flapping. Despite their bulk, the Raven is easily as agile in flight as the smaller crows.
Between 15 to 30 categories of vocalization have been recorded for the Raven, most of which are used for social interaction. Apart from its wide and complex vocabulary, the Raven can mimic sounds from their environment including human speech. Non-vocal sounds produced by the Raven include wing whistles and bill snapping. If a member of a pair is lost, its mate reproduces the calls of its lost partner to encourage its return.
The Raven can thrive in varied climates and it has the largest range of any member of the crow family and one of the largest of any passerine. It ranges throughout the Holarctic region from the Arctic and temperate habitats in north America and Eurasia to the deserts of north Africa and to the islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the UK, the Raven is most common in the upland areas of south west England, Wales, the north Pennines and the Lake District and much of Scotland. The Raven is generally resident within its range for the whole year although some birds may move south from the Arctic regions in winter. It can be found in a wide variety of environments but it prefers wooded areas with large expanses of open land nearby or coastal regions for their nesting sites and feeding grounds.
The Raven is usually seen in mated pairs although young birds may form flocks. Relationships between Ravens are often quarrelsome yet they demonstrate considerable devotion to their families.
Juvenile Ravens begin to court at a very early age but may not bond for another 2 or 3 years. Aerial acrobatics, demonstrations of intelligence and the ability to provide food are key behaviours of courting. Once paired, Ravens tend to nest together for life and usually in the same location. Breeding pairs must have a territory of their own before they begin nest building and reproduction and thus they aggressively defend a territory and its food resources. Nesting territories vary in size according to the availability of food resources in the area. The nest is a deep bowl made of large sticks and twigs bound with an inner layer of roots, mud and bark and lined with a softer material such as deer fur. It is usually built in a large tree or on a cliff ledge or less frequently in old buildings or utility poles. The female lays between 3 to 7 eggs and incubation by the female only is about 18 to 21 days. In most of the range, egg laying begins in late February although in colder climates it is as late as April. The young are fed by both parents and fledge after 35 to 42 days. They stay with their parents for another 6 months after fledging.
Owing to its size, gregariousness and its defensive abilities, the Raven has few natural predators. The eggs and young are preyed on, albeit rarely, by large hawks and eagles, large owls, martens and canids. The adults are often successful in defending their young and drive off predators by flying at them and lunging with their large bills. The Raven can be very long-lived especially in captive or protected conditions. Individuals at the Tower of London have lived for more than 40 years but lifespans in the wild are considerably shorter at typically 10 to 15 years.
The Raven is omnivorous and highly opportunistic and its diet may vary widely with location, season and luck. It will prey on small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and birds and scavenge by feeding on carrion as well as the associated maggots and carrion beetles. Plant food includes cereal grains, berries and fruit. It may also consume the undigested portions of animal faeces and human food waste. The Raven will store surplus food items, especially those containing fat, and it will learn to hide such food out of the sight of other Ravens. It will also raid the food caches of other species such as the Arctic Fox and it will sometimes associate with another canine, such as the Wolf, as a kleptoparasite, following them to scavenge kills in winter.
The crow family is well known for its intelligence and the brain of the Raven is among the largest of any bird species. Through extensive scientific experimentation, it has been proven that the Raven displays ability in problem-solving as well as other cognitive processes such as imitation and insight. In addition, there has been increasing recognition of the extent to which the Raven engages in play with others of its own species or with other mammals and birds. Juveniles are among the most playful of bird species. The Raven is also known for spectacular aerobatic displays such as flying in loops or interlocking talons with each other in flight.
Over the centuries, the Raven has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature. In many cultures, including the indigenous cultures of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the north west coast of north America, Siberia and north east Asia, the Raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god-like creature.
Date: 6th June 2018
Location: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Zărneşti, Brașov County, Romania
The adult Raven ranges from 21 inches to 26 inches in length with a wingspan of 45 to 51 inches. Recorded weights range from 1.5 to 4.5 pounds making the Raven one of the heaviest passerines. Birds from colder regions are generally larger and heavier compared with those from warmer regions. The Raven has a mostly black iridescent plumage. The bill is large and slightly curved and it is one of the largest bills amongst passerines. It has a longish, strongly graduated tail at 8 to 10.5 inches. The throat feathers are elongated and pointed and the base of the neck feathers are pale brownish-grey. Juvenile plumage is similar but duller.
Apart from its greater size, the Raven differs from other crows by having a larger and heavier black beak, shaggy feathers around the throat and above the beak and a wedge-shaped tail. Flying Ravens are distinguished from crows by their tail shape, larger wing area and more stable soaring style which generally involves less wing flapping. Despite their bulk, the Raven is easily as agile in flight as the smaller crows.
Between 15 to 30 categories of vocalization have been recorded for the Raven, most of which are used for social interaction. Apart from its wide and complex vocabulary, the Raven can mimic sounds from their environment including human speech. Non-vocal sounds produced by the Raven include wing whistles and bill snapping. If a member of a pair is lost, its mate reproduces the calls of its lost partner to encourage its return.
The Raven can thrive in varied climates and it has the largest range of any member of the crow family and one of the largest of any passerine. It ranges throughout the Holarctic region from the Arctic and temperate habitats in north America and Eurasia to the deserts of north Africa and to the islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the UK, the Raven is most common in the upland areas of south west England, Wales, the north Pennines and the Lake District and much of Scotland. The Raven is generally resident within its range for the whole year although some birds may move south from the Arctic regions in winter. It can be found in a wide variety of environments but it prefers wooded areas with large expanses of open land nearby or coastal regions for their nesting sites and feeding grounds.
The Raven is usually seen in mated pairs although young birds may form flocks. Relationships between Ravens are often quarrelsome yet they demonstrate considerable devotion to their families.
Juvenile Ravens begin to court at a very early age but may not bond for another 2 or 3 years. Aerial acrobatics, demonstrations of intelligence and the ability to provide food are key behaviours of courting. Once paired, Ravens tend to nest together for life and usually in the same location. Breeding pairs must have a territory of their own before they begin nest building and reproduction and thus they aggressively defend a territory and its food resources. Nesting territories vary in size according to the availability of food resources in the area. The nest is a deep bowl made of large sticks and twigs bound with an inner layer of roots, mud and bark and lined with a softer material such as deer fur. It is usually built in a large tree or on a cliff ledge or less frequently in old buildings or utility poles. The female lays between 3 to 7 eggs and incubation by the female only is about 18 to 21 days. In most of the range, egg laying begins in late February although in colder climates it is as late as April. The young are fed by both parents and fledge after 35 to 42 days. They stay with their parents for another 6 months after fledging.
Owing to its size, gregariousness and its defensive abilities, the Raven has few natural predators. The eggs and young are preyed on, albeit rarely, by large hawks and eagles, large owls, martens and canids. The adults are often successful in defending their young and drive off predators by flying at them and lunging with their large bills. The Raven can be very long-lived especially in captive or protected conditions. Individuals at the Tower of London have lived for more than 40 years but lifespans in the wild are considerably shorter at typically 10 to 15 years.
The Raven is omnivorous and highly opportunistic and its diet may vary widely with location, season and luck. It will prey on small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and birds and scavenge by feeding on carrion as well as the associated maggots and carrion beetles. Plant food includes cereal grains, berries and fruit. It may also consume the undigested portions of animal faeces and human food waste. The Raven will store surplus food items, especially those containing fat, and it will learn to hide such food out of the sight of other Ravens. It will also raid the food caches of other species such as the Arctic Fox and it will sometimes associate with another canine, such as the Wolf, as a kleptoparasite, following them to scavenge kills in winter.
The crow family is well known for its intelligence and the brain of the Raven is among the largest of any bird species. Through extensive scientific experimentation, it has been proven that the Raven displays ability in problem-solving as well as other cognitive processes such as imitation and insight. In addition, there has been increasing recognition of the extent to which the Raven engages in play with others of its own species or with other mammals and birds. Juveniles are among the most playful of bird species. The Raven is also known for spectacular aerobatic displays such as flying in loops or interlocking talons with each other in flight.
Over the centuries, the Raven has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature. In many cultures, including the indigenous cultures of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the north west coast of north America, Siberia and north east Asia, the Raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god-like creature.
Date: 6th June 2018
Location: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Zărneşti, Brașov County, Romania
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Also in: Romania
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