Common Raven
Corvus corax
Summary 7
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,...
Description of corvus corax 8
Raven 62 cm. De grootste kraai. Heeft zeer krachtige snavel, geheel zwart, glanzend verenkleed en verlengde keelveren, die ruig uiterlijk veroorzaken. Juveniel heeft bruinig, niet glanzend, zwart verenkleed. Altijd te onderscheiden van Zwarte Kraai door groot formaat, enorme snavel, \'ruige\' keel, wigvormige staart en geluid. Heeft krachtige vlucht met langzame vleugelslagen; zweeft vaak langdurig (andere kraaien niet) en haalt in de lucht acrobatische toeren uit, met name tijdens broedseizoen.
Distribution 9
Common ravens are one of the most widespread, naturally occurring birds worldwide. They are found in northern Europe, the British Isles, Greenland (mainly coastal areas), Iceland, northern Scandinavia, east through central Asia to the Pacific Ocean and south to the Himalayas and northwestern India, Iranian region and near east, northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands, and North and Central America as far south as Nicaragua.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); neotropical (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: holarctic
Morphology 10
Common ravens are large, black birds with a wedge-shaped tail. They have a well-developed ruff of feathers on the throat, which are called 'hackles' and are used often social communication. These are the largest passerines. Adults reach up to 69 cm in length and from 689 to 1625 grams in weight. They are generally distinguished from other Corvus species by their large size, more wedge-shaped tail, robust bill, a tendency to soar and glide, and their frequent, harsh, croaking calls. The sexes are generally alike, although females may be smaller.
Range mass: 689 to 1625 g.
Range length: 69 (high) cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Average basal metabolic rate: 5.5656 W.
Habitat 11
Common ravens prefer open landscapes, such as treeless tundra, seacoasts, open riverbanks, rocky cliffs, mountain forests, plains, deserts, and scrubby woodlands. However, these ravens can be found in most types of habitats except for rainforests. Common ravens in North America tend to be found in wild areas, whereas their cousins, common crows tend to be found in areas more affected by human habitation. In some parts of their range they have become quite habituated to humans and can be found in urban areas.
Common ravens generally roost on cliff ledges or in large trees but have also established nests on power-lines, in urban areas, and on billboards, to name only a few.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; scrub forest ; mountains
Migration 12
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
Basically sedentary, but some migration has been reported for birds in the most northern part of the range.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Anita Gould, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/61897811@N00/2056438076
- Stolz, Gary M., no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/20831.jpg
- (c) Magdy Mohamed Salem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/3992944153_bf20936d20.jpg
- (c) Magdy Mohamed Salem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4236238572_2d8212ccb7.jpg
- Magdy Mohamed Salem, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Raven_2.jpg/460px-Raven_2.jpg
- (c) Magdy Mohamed Salem, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Corvus_corax_jouveniles.jpeg/460px-Corvus_corax_jouveniles.jpeg
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvus_corax
- (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/16890824
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31387626
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31387628
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31387627
- (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28846832
