FaunaHub

Raven (Corvus corax)

BirdCorvidWild

A common raven (Corvus corax) showing a heavy bill and shaggy throat feathers.

Common raven (Corvus corax).

Image: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

The common raven (Corvus corax) is a large, all-black bird in the corvid family and one of the most widespread of all birds, found across the Northern Hemisphere. It is closely related to the crow but noticeably larger, with a heavier bill and shaggy throat feathers. Ravens are renowned for their intelligence, acrobatic flight, and prominent place in mythology and folklore worldwide.

Habitat & Range

Ravens occupy an exceptionally wide range of habitats — forests, mountains, coasts, deserts, tundra, farmland, and towns — across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They are adaptable and can live from sea level to high mountains. This broad tolerance is one reason the common raven is so widely distributed.

Diet

Ravens are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers. Their diet may include carrion, small animals, eggs, insects, grain, fruit, and human food waste. They are resourceful foragers and will cache food. Diet varies with habitat and season; this page describes general feeding ecology.

Behavior

Ravens are highly intelligent and have been studied for problem-solving, planning, and complex social behaviour. They are strong, acrobatic fliers that perform rolls and tumbles, and they produce a wide range of deep, croaking calls. Ravens often form long-term pair bonds and hold territories, while younger birds may gather in groups. Behaviour is rich and varied.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Ravens are wild birds, not pets, and are protected by wildlife law in many regions. They appear across human cultures as symbols of intelligence, mystery, and more. The common raven is widespread and generally not of conservation concern, though local situations vary and status should be checked against current sources. Do not disturb nests or roosts, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local authority for any injured wild bird.

Appearance & Recognition

The common raven is a large, entirely glossy-black bird with a heavy, slightly curved bill, shaggy feathers on the throat ("hackles"), and a distinctive wedge-shaped tail seen in flight. It is considerably larger than a crow and gives a deep, resonant croak rather than the crow's higher caw. Size, bill shape, throat hackles, tail shape, and voice together separate ravens from crows.

Similar Animals

The raven is a corvid, the same family as the crow covered separately on FaunaHub, along with jays and magpies. The crow is the bird most often confused with the raven; the raven is larger with a wedge-shaped tail and deeper call.

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More photos of the raven

A common raven perched, with glossy black plumage.

A common raven in a forest national park.

Image: Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Raven

How can I tell a raven from a crow?
Ravens are larger than crows, with a heavier bill, shaggy throat feathers, a wedge-shaped tail (versus the crow's fan-shaped tail), and a deeper, croaking call. Watching size, tail shape, and listening to the voice are the most reliable ways to tell them apart.
Are ravens intelligent?
Ravens are among the most studied birds for cognition, with research documenting problem-solving, planning, and complex social behaviour. They are widely regarded as highly intelligent, alongside other corvids.
Are ravens rare?
The common raven is one of the most widespread birds in the world and is generally not of conservation concern, though local situations vary. As always, check current sources such as the IUCN Red List for specific status rather than assuming.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.