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    crow

    Common raven

    Scientific Name: Corvus corax

    Crows and ravens belong to the large family Corvidae, along with more than 200 other species including jays, nutcrackers and magpies. These less-than-melodious birds, you may be surprised to learn, are classified as songbirds..

    Download Crows and Ravens Wildlife Note
    Raven

    Species Profile

    The common raven, Corvus corax, is a less common Pennsylvania resident than the American crow, but is found in a wide variety of habitats especially the deep woods. Formerly they were found mainly in the mountainous northcentral region especially the Seven Mountains and Endless Mountains regions. They have returned to the common status that they had in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their numbers declined so much that by the late 19th century, some considered it to be possibly extirpated from Pennsylvania. Today, the raven population is recovering and expanding into many counties including agricultural areas. Ravens are abundant in Canada and the Rocky Mountains. Favored habitat is remote, heavily-forested wilderness, seacoasts and wooded islands.

    Ravens are 20 to 25 inches in length, with a wingspread of about four feet. Their plumage is entirely black, with green and purple iridescence. Both sexes are colored alike; males are generally larger than females.

    The raven is often confused with its close relative, the crow, but there are major differences between the two species that are especially apparent when crows and ravens are seen together. Common ravens are much larger than American crows, over double their one-pound size. They are about the size of a red-tailed hawk. Ravens are built for soaring and gliding with long, narrow wings and a broad wedge-shaped tail. Ravens also have a shaggy throat and a massive bill that allows them to tear into carcasses and kill small animals. Ravens eat rodents, insects, grain, fruit, bird eggs and refuse. They consume much carrion, especially in winter. In northern Pennsylvania, they are often seen along roads, where they feed on road-killed deer, raccoons, opossums, etc. Ravens also prey upon sick and injured animals.

    A raven is every bit as alert as a crow and possesses sharp eyesight and hearing. Ravens are considered among the most intelligent of all birds. Like crows, they can learn to imitate a variety of sounds, including the human voice. In nature, their calls include guttural croaks, gurgling noises, and a sharp, metallic “tock.”

    Ravens are skillful fliers. Their acrobatic courtship display flight is especially spectacular. After mating, a pair will seek out an isolated nesting spot, usually at least a mile away from any other ravens. Formerly they only nested on remote cliffs and large trees, but they are becoming more tolerant of people. Each year, more seem to be nesting in closer proximity to civilization and entering towns in winter to feed on litter and garbage. Some ravens now nest on large structures like transmission towers and football stadiums and forage in agricultural landscapes. Other ravens nest in deep woods where they rarely see humans. These, more typical nests are built on cliffs or near the tops of large trees. Of 17 raven nests found in a Pennsylvania study, 13 were on cliffs, three were in hemlocks (45 to 80 feet up), and one was 85 feet up in a white pine.

    Ravens often build a new nest on top of the previous year’s nest. Nests are constructed of large sticks, twigs and grapevines. The outside diameter is 2 to 4 feet; inside diameter, one foot. The 6-inch deep central hollow is lined with deer hair, moss, shredded bark and grass.

    The female lays 3 to 6 (usually 4 to 5) oval eggs, which are greenish and covered with brown or olive markings. Eggshells are rough and dull-looking. Incubation, which is mainly by the female, lasts about three weeks. Young are altricial. They leave the nest about one month after hatching. Ravens may live as long as 35 years in the wild, but much less is normal.