Common raven (Corvus corax)

Common Raven (Corvus corax) - Picture taken in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Key Facts

  • Size: 54 - 67 cm

  • Weight: 0.69 - 1.5 kg

  • Diet: Omnivorous: Berries, fruits, grains, small vertebrates, insects, earthworms, bird eggs, carrion

  • Season: All year round

  • Observation Tip: Forests, agricultural landscapes, meadows, parks

Photography Tips

  • Lens: Starting from 200 mm

  • Difficulty Level: Easy

The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a songbird belonging to the family Corvidae and is the largest raven species in Europe. Its scientific name is derived from the Greek "Corax" and the Latin "Corvus," both meaning "raven." The first syllable of its German name, "Kolk," is likely onomatopoeic and mimics the bird's call. The species became extinct in large parts of Central Europe by 1940 due to human persecution but recovered as persecution declined.

Description

The Common Raven reaches a length of 54 to 67 cm and a wingspan of 115 to 130 cm. Males are slightly larger and heavier on average than females. The plumage of adult birds is uniformly black and shines metallic green or blue-violet depending on the light. The throat feathers are elongated and lanceolate, and the tail is wedge-shaped at the end. Young birds have a less glossy, brownish-black plumage and a blue-gray iris. They acquire the typical adult plumage only at the age of three.

Habitat and Diet

Common Ravens are highly adaptable and inhabit various habitats such as high mountains, forests, open and semi-open landscapes. They are omnivores and feed on a variety of small vertebrates, insects, earthworms, carrion, fruits, and human food scraps.

Distribution and Population

The distribution range of the Common Raven extends over large parts of the Holarctic, from Ireland, Iceland, and Portugal in the west to Kamchatka in the east. In the Nearctic, it ranges from Alaska and northern Canada to Nicaragua. Distribution gaps in Central and Western Europe, as well as in the eastern United States, are due to human persecution.

In the past, the Common Raven was relentlessly persecuted due to its perceived harmfulness to hunting and agriculture, leading to its extinction in some areas. After World War II and the associated hunting ban, the population recovered and began to recolonize extinct areas in Central Europe since around 1960. In Germany, Common Ravens are subject to hunting laws but have a year-round closed season. The IUCN estimated the global population at around 16 million individuals in 2003 and classified the species as of least concern.


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Markus

🇩🇪 Wer schreibt hier:

Servus zusammen,

mein Name ist Markus und seit 2014 widme ich mich der Video- & Fotografie von Naturmotiven. Diese Leidenschaft begann während meiner zahlreichen Reisen durch Japan - von Hokkaido im Norden bis hinunter nach Okinawa im Süden. Diese Erfahrungen haben mich wieder stärker mit der Natur verbunden und auch die WildeNatur vor meiner eigenen Haustür entdecken lassen.

🇺🇸 Who is writing here:
Hello everyone,
My name is Markus, and I've been passionate about video and photography of nature scenes since 2014. This passion started during my many trips across Japan—from the northern reaches of Hokkaido all the way down to Okinawa in the south. These journeys have helped me reconnect with nature and also explore the wild beauty right outside my own front door.

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