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Common raven landing on snow

Raven

Ravens are the largest perching bird in Europe, that now only occupy the rural parts of their former range here. They prefer the upland moorlands and coastal cliffs of Europe, northern Africa, Asia and North America. Although they have a wide and varied diet, it's carrion on which they most rely. These giants of the crow family are known to be super intelligent, but they are also playful, performing mid-air acrobatics and playing games that involve passing stones to one another. Pairs mate for life.

Did you know?
A group of ravens is called an unkindness.

All you need to know about British birds.

Scientific name: Corvus corax

Rank: Species

Common names:

  • Common raven,
  • Northern raven

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Distribution

Map showing the distribution of the Raven taxa

Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.

The Raven can be found in a number of locations including: Arctic, Asia, China, Europe, Himalayas, Indian subcontinent, Mediterranean, North America, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Raven distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Least Concern

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Year assessed: 2009

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is a large, all-black passerine bird. Found across the northern hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids. There are at least eight subspecies with little variation in appearance—although recent research has demonstrated significant genetic differences among populations from various regions. It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the Thick-billed Raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity, the Common Raven averages 63 centimetres (25 inches) in length and 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) in mass. Common Ravens can live up to 21 years in the wild, a lifespan exceeded among passerines by only a few Australasian species such as the Satin Bowerbird and probably the lyrebirds. Young birds may travel in flocks but later mate for life, with each mated pair defending a territory.

The Common Raven has coexisted with humans for thousands of years and in some areas have been so numerous that they are considered a pest. Part of its success comes from its omnivorous diet; Common Ravens are extremely versatile and opportunistic in finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, insects, cereal grains, berries, fruit, small animals, and food waste.

Some notable feats of problem-solving have been observed in the species, leading to the belief that it is highly intelligent. Over the centuries, it has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art, and literature. In many indigenous cultures, including those of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the northwest coast of North America, and Siberia and northeast Asia, the Common Raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god.

Read more at Wikipedia

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Sounds

BBC News about Raven

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