Question · Biology
What Do Ravens Eat?
[science] Common Ravens are generalist omnivores — they eat almost anything they can find or overpower: carrion (dead animals), small live prey (rodents, nestlings, rabbits), eggs, invertebrates (insects, earthworms), berries, grain, seeds, and human refuse. Their dietary breadth is one reason they have the widest distribution of any raven species.
Carrion — Their Most Important Food Source
[science] Carrion is the cornerstone of the raven's diet, particularly in winter and in northern latitudes where prey is harder to catch. Ravens are drawn to large carcasses from considerable distances — there is evidence they can detect carrion by smell as well as by sight, and they learn from watching other ravens and wolves find food.1
Ravens have a complex relationship with wolves and other large predators: they follow wolf packs, eat from wolf kills, and may even lead wolves to prey in return for access to the kill. Bernd Heinrich documented this behaviour extensively in New England ravens and wolf–raven associations.2
Live Prey
[science] Ravens actively hunt small prey including:
- Rodents (voles, mice, lemmings) — especially in open tundra and agricultural land.
- Rabbits and leverets — particularly juveniles that cannot escape.
- Nestlings and eggs of other birds — ravens will raid nests and mob nesting colonies.
- Lizards, frogs, and other small vertebrates.
- Large invertebrates — beetles, earthworms, marine invertebrates in coastal areas.
Ravens are capable hunters but prefer prey that is easy to catch; they will not expend energy pursuing difficult prey when easier food is available.1
Plant Foods
[science] Ravens eat berries, fruits, and seeds opportunistically, particularly in late summer and autumn when these are abundant. Grain and cereal crops are taken where ravens live near farmland. In some regions, plant food can make up a significant portion of the summer diet when invertebrates and fruit are plentiful and carrion is scarce.1
Human Refuse and Urban Food
[science] Ravens are highly opportunistic around human settlements. They raid rubbish bins, landfills, campsites, and picnic areas. In some cities (Yellowknife, Canada; Las Vegas, Nevada; parts of Israel and Turkey) raven populations have expanded dramatically due to food availability from human refuse.1 This is a "science" labelled fact — not a judgement about whether it is desirable.
Food Caching — Storing for Later
[science] Ravens cache food — they hide surplus food (usually in soil, under vegetation, or in crevices) for later retrieval. They have a strong spatial memory for cache locations and can maintain hundreds of caches simultaneously. They also cache strategically: re-hiding food when they suspect they have been watched by a potential thief.3
Related Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ravens eat live animals?
Yes. Ravens kill and eat small to medium-sized prey including rodents, rabbits, lizards, frogs, and nestlings of other birds. They also scavenge larger carcasses they cannot kill themselves. Their diet is flexible: they will take whatever is most available.
Do ravens eat carrion (dead animals)?
Carrion is a major food source for ravens, especially in winter when other food is scarce. Ravens are attracted to large carcasses — ungulates, domestic livestock, and roadkill. They may gather in groups around a carcass and can displace smaller scavengers.
Can ravens eat human food?
Ravens readily eat human refuse, scraps, and stored food — they are well-known opportunists around campsites, landfills, and towns. Human food is nutritionally fine for ravens (they are omnivores), though feeding wild ravens is generally not recommended as it habituates them to human presence and can create conflicts.
Sources
- Boarman, W.I. & Heinrich, B. (1999). Common Raven (Corvus corax). In Birds of the World. Cornell Lab. — diet overview.
- Heinrich, B. (1989). Ravens in Winter. Simon & Schuster. — wolf–raven relationships and carrion foraging.
- Bugnyar, T. & Heinrich, B. (2005). Ravens differentiate between knowledgeable and ignorant competitors. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 272, pp. 1641–46. — food caching and cache protection.
[science] peer-reviewed study or field-guide data