SPC·01
Common Raven
Corvus corax
North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa
LC Least Concern (LC) · BirdLife International 2020
The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is the largest corvid: 56–69 cm long, with a wingspan of 120–150 cm and a wedge-shaped tail. It lives across the Holarctic — from Alaska to North Africa to Japan — and is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Quick Facts
- Length
- 56–69 cm
- Wingspan
- 120–150 cm
- Weight
- 689–1,625 (most 800–1,200) g
- IUCN Status
- Least Concern (LC)
- Range
- The most widespread raven, found across the Holarctic: North America from Alaska to Central America, all of Europe, and across Asia to the Pacific.
- Habitat
- Forest, tundra, coast, desert, mountain, farmland, cities — the most habitat-tolerant of all ravens.
- Diet
- Omnivore: carrion, small vertebrates, invertebrates, berries, grain, human refuse.
- Voice
- Deep, resonant "kronk" or "pruk"; also a gurgling water-drip call, wooden knocking, and a wide range of imitations.
Field Marks — How to Identify Common Raven
- Wedge-shaped tail — the clearest in-flight mark; crow tails are fan-shaped.
- Shaggy throat hackles, especially visible when calling.
- Heavy, arched bill — larger than any crow.
- Size: roughly the size of a Buzzard; noticeably larger than a Carrion Crow.
- Deep croak rather than a caw.
Behaviour
Common Ravens are among the most cognitively capable birds studied: they cache food, re-hide caches when watched, barter for future rewards, and form long-term pair bonds. Pairs defend territories year-round; non-breeders gather in communal roosts of up to hundreds of birds.
Conservation Status
Least Concern globally with an increasing population trend. Once persecuted and extirpated across much of lowland Europe; since legal protection in the mid-20th century they have recolonised much of Britain and Central Europe. They are fully protected in most of their range.
Similar Species
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a Common Raven?
Common Ravens are 56–69 cm (22–27 in) long with a wingspan of 120–150 cm (47–59 in). They weigh 689–1,625 g (1.5–3.6 lb), making them the largest passerine bird in the world.
How can you tell a Common Raven from a crow?
The quickest mark is the tail: wedge-shaped on a raven, fan-shaped (rounded) on a crow. Ravens are also noticeably larger, have a heavier arched bill, shaggy throat hackles, and call with a deep croak rather than a caw.
Where does the Common Raven live?
Common Ravens are found across the whole Holarctic — North America from Alaska south to Nicaragua, all of Europe, and across Asia to Japan and the Pacific. They occupy almost every habitat from Arctic tundra to desert.
Is the Common Raven endangered?
No. The Common Raven is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a population that is increasing in many areas after persecution ended in the 20th century.
How smart is the Common Raven?
Common Ravens have been shown in controlled experiments to plan for the future, understand what others can and cannot see, and trade tokens for food — cognitive feats once considered unique to great apes. See our raven intelligence chapter for the details.
Sources
- BirdLife International (2020). Corvus corax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22706068A166517592. — IUCN status, population trend
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1994). Crows and Jays. Christopher Helm, London. — size, field marks, range
- Boarman, W.I. & Heinrich, B. (1999). Common Raven (Corvus corax). In Birds of the World (A.F. Poole, ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology. — behaviour, range, voice