Crows and jays · Perching birds
Common Raven
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Corvus corax
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Voice
Call
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 60–70 cm
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All-black plumage with a metallic sheen; heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers
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Long wedge-shaped tail; soaring flight with few wingbeats
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Loud, deep guttural call, a croak like "prruk"
About the species
In sunlight, the Common Raven’s black feathers can flash blue or green. Long, shaggy throat feathers frame a heavy, slightly curved bill, and its eye is dark brown. It can glide on broad wings with few flaps, showing a long, wedge-shaped tail. Young ravens are duller black, without the glossy sheen.
Its call is a deep, resonant 'prruk-prruk-prruk'. Pairs usually travel together and defend a territory, while young ravens may gather in flocks. When one finds a large carcass, loud calls may bring others in; surplus food may be tucked away where other ravens cannot see it.
It uses woodland with open ground nearby, coasts, and mountainous country, and in some places parks with tall trees too. Carrion is a frequent meal, but it also takes insects, grains, berries, small animals, and food scraps. Across much of its range, it stays year-round, though young ravens may disperse locally.
Did you know?
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Aerial police escort
Instead of attacking intruders, a territorial raven pair may escort three strangers out of its domain by flying alongside them on either side, like an aerial police escort.
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Upside-down flapping defence
Attacked from above by hooded crows, a raven flips onto its back mid-flight and keeps flapping, thrusting its clawed feet up at the attacker.
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Eighteen months of wandering
Once they leave their parents, young ravens spend a year and a half roaming in flocks of fellow wanderers, never lingering long even at rich feeds and respecting no one's territory.
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Where to find
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In parkland in some cities where Common Ravens occur, scan tall trees during the breeding season for large stick nests.
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In winter, scan roadsides for foraging at carrion or discarded food.
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Over open mountain slopes, look up for a silhouette soaring for a long stretch with only occasional wingbeats.
