Species · Range and Habitat
Australian Raven — Range and Habitat
Corvus coronoides · Australia's Most Widespread Corvid
[science] The Australian Raven is the most widespread of Australia's corvids, found throughout coastal and inland eastern, southern, and western Australia. It is absent from Tasmania (Forest Raven), the Northern Territory interior, and true desert. It is a habitat generalist — found in woodland, forest edges, farmland, urban areas, and coastal scrub. Conservation status: Least Concern.
Range
[science] Australia-wide except:
- Tasmania (replaced by Forest Raven)
- Northern Territory interior and far north-west (replaced by Torresian Crow in tropical north)
- True desert areas of the interior where little food or water is available
Present throughout New South Wales (including Sydney and surrounds), Victoria (including Melbourne), South Australia, Queensland (south and east), and much of Western Australia (south and south-west). The most familiar large corvid in Sydney, Canberra, and many other Australian cities and suburbs.1
Habitat
[science] Generalist — tolerates a wide range of habitats:
- Woodland and forest edges — particularly eucalypt woodland
- Farmland — widespread in agricultural areas
- Urban and suburban areas — common in parks, gardens, rubbish tips in cities
- Coastal heath and scrub
- Avoids dense rainforest interior and true desert
The Australian Raven's urban tolerance has made it one of the most familiar corvids to Australian city-dwellers — it is a common presence at sporting events, school grounds, and suburban gardens across south-eastern Australia.1
Overlap with Other Corvids
[science] Where its range meets the Forest Raven (Victoria–New South Wales border area), call and shape are the main separators. Where it meets the Little Raven (much of south-eastern Australia), wing-flick and call separate them. In Queensland, the Torresian Crow and Australian Raven can occur together — different call and habitat position (Australian Raven more in woodland and urban; Torresian Crow more in tropics).1
Conservation Status
[science] Least Concern (IUCN Red List). Common and widespread; benefits from agricultural waste and urban food sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Australian Raven live?
The Australian Raven is found throughout most of Australia — the most widely distributed of the Australian corvids. It is common in coastal and inland New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. It is absent from the Northern Territory interior, true desert regions, and Tasmania (where the Forest Raven replaces it).
Sources
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1994). Crows and Jays. Christopher Helm. — range and habitat.
[science] field-guide data