Questions · Biology
What Do Raven Eggs Look Like?
Size, colour, clutch size, and nesting biology
[science] Common Raven eggs are pale blue-green to greenish-grey, spotted and blotched with brown and grey. They measure approximately 48–55 mm × 32–38 mm — roughly the size of a large chicken egg. Clutch size is 3–7 eggs (typically 4–6). The female incubates alone for 20–21 days; the male feeds her on the nest.
Egg Appearance
[science] Common Raven (Corvus corax) eggs:
- Ground colour: Pale blue-green, greenish-grey, or occasionally pale green
- Markings: Heavily spotted and blotched with brown, olive-brown, and grey — spots variable in size, often concentrated at the broader end
- Size: 48–55 mm long × 32–38 mm wide (mean approximately 50 × 33 mm)
- Shape: Ovate to slightly elongated
- Texture: Smooth, slightly glossy
Egg colouration is variable; some clutches are more heavily marked than others. The spotted pattern is typical of open-cup nesters and may provide camouflage if the nest is partially exposed.1
Clutch Size and Incubation
[science]
- Clutch size: 3–7 eggs; 4–6 most common
- Incubation period: 20–21 days
- Who incubates: Female only; male brings food to the incubating female
- Broods per year: 1 (rarely 2 in favourable conditions)
- Fledging: Chicks leave the nest at approximately 35–42 days
- Post-fledging dependence: Young ravens remain with parents for several months after fledging
Nest
[science] Ravens typically build large, bulky nests:
- Structure: Large platform of sticks and twigs; lined with wool, hair, bark fibre, grass, and moss
- Location: Cliff ledges (preferred), tall trees, pylons, buildings — high, inaccessible sites
- Size: Can be 60–120 cm across after years of reuse; ravens often reuse and add to the same nest annually
- Breeding season: Eggs laid February–May in the northern hemisphere (varies by latitude); earlier in southern parts of range
Both sexes build the nest, though the female does more of the lining. Nest sites may be used for many years — some sites are known to have been occupied for decades.1,2
Comparison with Similar Species
[science] For identification context:
- Common Raven: 48–55 mm; pale blue-green, heavily spotted
- Carrion Crow (Corvus corone): 44–46 mm; similar pale green-blue with brown spots — difficult to distinguish without exact measurements
- Rook (Corvus frugilegus): 40–44 mm; paler, less heavily spotted
- Jackdaw (Corvus monedula): 34–36 mm; white to pale blue with brown spots; significantly smaller
In practice, the nest location (cliff vs treetop vs cavity) is a more reliable identification feature than egg colouration alone.1
Frequently Asked Questions
What do raven eggs look like?
Common Raven eggs are pale blue-green or greenish-grey, heavily spotted and blotched with brown, olive-brown, and grey. They measure approximately 48–55 mm long × 32–38 mm wide. A typical clutch is 3–7 eggs. The female incubates alone for 20–21 days while the male brings food to the nest.
How many eggs do ravens lay?
Common Ravens typically lay 3–7 eggs per clutch, with 4–6 being most common. They usually raise one brood per year. Incubation lasts 20–21 days; chicks fledge at approximately 35–42 days. Both parents feed the chicks, but only the female incubates.
Sources
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1994). Crows and Jays. Christopher Helm. — egg descriptions, clutch size, incubation data.
- Boarman, W. I. & Heinrich, B. (1999). Common Raven (Corvus corax). In A. Poole & F. Gill (Eds.), The Birds of North America, No. 476. — breeding biology.
[science] field-guide and species-account data