Corvus corax
Glorified in traditional cultures worldwide, the Common Raven does not act by instinct alone. Whether tumbling aimlessly through the air, delivering complex, meaningful vocalizations or sliding playfully down a snowy bank on its back, this raucous bird demonstrates behavior many think of as being exclusively human. Few birds naturally occupy as large a natural range as the raven, but the Rockies remain one of the most reliable places in which to experience their habits. It seems that little goes on in the Rockies without the omnipresent raven surveying the scene. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: all-black plumage; heavy, black bill; wedge-shaped tail; shaggy throat; rounded wings. Size: L 24 in. (61 cm); W 50 in. (127 cm). Range: common year-round throughout the Rockies. Habitat: grasslands, shrublands, townsites, campgrounds and landfills from the foothills to the alpine. Nesting: on power poles, steep cliffs and tall conifer trees; large stick and branch nest is lined with fur and soft plant materials; female incubates 4-6 eggs for 18-21 days. Feeding: very opportunistic; feeds on carrion, small vertebrates, other birds' eggs and nestlings, berries, invertebrates and hoofed mammal afterbirth. Voice: deep, guttural, far-carrying, repetitive craww-craww or quork quork; also many other vocalizations. Similar Species: American Crow: smaller; rounded tail; slim throat; slimmer bill; call is a higher-pitched caw. |
