Common Raven
Corvus corax redirects here. For other
uses, see Corvus corax (disambiguation).
Common Raven
At Bryce Canyon National Park, USA
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Corvidae
Genus:
Corvus
Species:
C. corax
Binomial name
Corvus corax
Linnaeus, 1758
Common Raven range
Subspecies
• C. c. corax
• C. c. varius
• C. c. subcorax
• C. c. tingitanus
• C. c. tibetanus
• C. c. kamtschaticus
• C. c. principalis
• C. c. sinuatus
The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also
known as the Northern Raven, is a large all-
black passerine bird in the crow family.
Found across the northern hemisphere, it is
the most widely distributed of all corvids.
There are eight known subspecies with little
variation in appearance—although recent re-
search has demonstrated significant genetic
differences among populations from various
regions. It is one of the two largest corvids,
alongside the Thick-billed Raven, and is pos-
sibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity,
the Common Raven is between 56 and 69 cm
(22 to 27 inches) in length, with recorded
weights ranging from 0.69 to 1.63 kg (1.5 to
3.6 pounds). Common Ravens typically live
about 10 to 15 years in the wild, although
lifespans of up to 40 years have been recor-
ded. Young birds may travel in flocks, but
later mate for life, with each mated pair de-
fending a territory.
The Common Raven has coexisted with
humans for thousands of years, and in some
areas has been so successful that it is con-
sidered a pest. Part of its success comes from
its omnivorous diet; Common Ravens are ex-
tremely versatile and opportunistic in finding
sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, in-
sects and food waste, in addition to cereal
grains, berries, fruit and small animals.
Some remarkable feats of problem-solving
have been observed in the species, leading to
the belief that it is highly intelligent. Over
the centuries, it has been the subject of
mythology, folklore, art and litera