Common Raven

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Least Concern

A resident UK breeder, the common raven is the largest member of the crow family and one of the most widespread naturally occurring birds in the world. It is an impressive and highly intelligent bird.

Appearance and Identification

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Color

Black

Primary Color (juvenile)

Dark Brown

Secondary Colors

Iridescent

Secondary Colors (female)

Secondary Colors (juvenile)

Black

Secondary Colors (seasonal)

Wing Color

Black

Wing Color (juvenile)

Dark Brown

Beak Type

Long

Beak Color

Black

Beak Color (juvenile)

Grey

Leg Color

Black

Leg Color (juvenile)

Grey

Distinctive Markings

Shiny, slightly iridescent

Distinctive Markings (juvenile)

Less glossy than adults

Tail Description

Wedge-shaped

Tail Description (juvenile)

Less wedge-shaped

Size Metrics

54cm to 67cm

Length

115cm to 150cm

Wingspan

689g to 1.625kg

Weight

Photos

Click on an image below to see the full-size version

Vocalization and Sounds

Primary Calls

Variety of croaks, grunts, groans, and screams

Call Description

Deep, resonant croaking or gronk-gronk

Alarm Calls

High-pitched shrieking

Behavior and Social Structure

Daily Activities

Active during the day, roosts in trees or cliffs at night

Social Habits

Often seen in pairs or family groups

Territorial Behavior

Defends territory, particularly during breeding season

Migratory Patterns

Non-migratory

Interaction with Other Species

Often dominates other birds at food sources

Diet

Primary Diet

Carrion, Small Mammals, Insects, Grains

Feeding Habits

Omnivorous, eats a wide range of animal and plant food

Feeding Times

Throughout the day

Prey Capture Method

Foraging on the ground and in trees

Diet Variations

Diet varies with location and season

Special Dietary Needs (if any)

None known

Nesting

Nesting Location

Treetops, cliffs, and occasionally buildings

Nest Construction

Large structure of sticks, lined with softer materials

Breeding Season

February to June

Number of clutches (per breeding season)

1 brood

Egg Appearance

Greenish or bluish, spotted with brown

Egg Size

4.5 cm x 3 cm

Clutch Characteristics

3-7 eggs

Incubation Period

18-21 days

Fledgling Period

35-42 days

Parental Care

Both parents care for young, with females doing most of the incubating

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

Northern Hemisphere from Arctic Circle to deserts of North Africa and Central America

Habitat Description

Wide range of habitats including forests, tundra, deserts, parks, and agricultural areas

Elevation Range

Sea level to mountainous regions (5,000m)

Migration Patterns

Non-migratory

Biome

Desert, Forest, Tundra

Climate zones

Polar, Temperate, Desert

Distribution Map

Please note, this range and distribution map is a high-level overview, and doesn't break down into specific regions and areas of the countries.

© 2024 - Birdfact

Resident or Present

Spain, The United Kingdom, Italy, France, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Gibraltar, Czechia, Faroe Islands, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Palestine, Russia, Syria, Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Azerbaijan

Breeding

Albania, Armenia, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United States of America, Uzbekistan

Non-breeding

Lebanon

Vagrant

Malta, Panama, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, United Arab Emirates

Lifespan and Life Cycle

Lifespan range (years)

10

15

Average Lifespan

13 year(s)

Maturity Age

3 year(s)

Breeding Age

3 year(s)

Reproductive Behavior

Monogamous, often for life

Age-Related Changes

Young birds lighter and duller

Conservation Status

Current Status

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Major Threats

Habitat loss, poisoning, persecution

Conservation Efforts

Legal protection in some areas

Population Trend

Population stable or increasing in most areas

Classification

Other names:

Northern Raven

Family:

Corvidae

Population size:

16,000,000

Population trend:

Increasing

Conservation status:

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

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