Common Raven (Corvus corax) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Common Raven is a large black bird found across much of the western and northern United States, with a deep, croaking call. Its wedge-shaped tail helps set it apart from a crow in flight.

Appearance

Appearance: It has a heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers, and long wings. Adults are about 22–27 in (56–69 cm) long.
Voice: Its most familiar call is a deep, rough croak.

Look-alikes

American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos

A raven is larger, with a heavier bill, shaggy throat, and wedge-shaped tail. The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) has a more fan-shaped tail in flight.

Chihuahuan RavenCorvus cryptoleucus

The Common Raven is much larger than the Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus) and has a heavier bill. Size can be hard to judge in a lone bird, so look for the bill and throat too.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Forests
Deserts
Coasts
Mountain country
Range: It occurs across the western and northern United States and is returning to parts of the Northeast. It also uses farms and some towns.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year
43,085 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: It eats , small animals, eggs, insects, berries, grain, and human food scraps.
Activity: It sometimes soars or glides and may tumble playfully in the air.

Life cycle

Nest: Pairs build large stick nests on cliffs, in trees, or on structures such as bridges.
Clutch size: 3–7 eggs
Incubation: 20–25 days

Name and classification

About the name: Northern and Southwestern Common Ravens are among the named .

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Edgar Allan Poe made a raven the unforgettable visitor in his poem The Raven.
Ravens appear in stories of Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, though the stories differ among communities.

13 sources