Common Raven
Corvus corax
Quick answer
The common raven is a large, all-black songbird found across the Northern Hemisphere and one of the most intelligent of all animals. Ravens can solve complex problems, use tools, mimic sounds, and even appear to plan for the future. Larger than crows, with a deep croaking call and shaggy throat feathers, they live in many habitats and often reach 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Common Raven facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Corvus corax |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore (carrion, small animals, fruit, scraps) |
| Habitat | Forests, mountains, deserts, coasts, and cities |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years in the wild |
| Wingspan | 1.0–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) |
| Top speed | Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
Where it lives
Across the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic through forests, mountains, and deserts of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Remarkable intelligence
Ravens rank among the smartest animals on Earth, with brains large for their body size. They can solve multi-step puzzles, fashion and use simple tools, remember individual human faces, and seem to plan ahead by caching food for later. In experiments they have shown problem-solving abilities that rival those of great apes.
Communication and play
Common ravens have a rich vocabulary of croaks, knocks, and other calls, and they can mimic sounds, including human speech. They are also notably playful, sliding down snowy slopes, dropping and catching objects in mid-air, and performing acrobatic rolls and tumbles in flight, behavior that suggests intelligence and curiosity.
Diet and adaptability
Ravens are omnivores and opportunists, eating carrion, insects, small animals, eggs, fruit, grain, and human food scraps. This flexible diet lets them thrive almost anywhere, from Arctic tundra and deserts to forests and busy cities. They often follow predators or scan roadsides to find food others have left behind.
Raven or crow?
Ravens are larger and heavier than crows, with a thicker beak, shaggy throat feathers, and a wedge-shaped tail visible in flight. Their call is a deep, hoarse croak rather than the higher cawing of a crow. Ravens also tend to soar more and are often seen in pairs, while crows frequently gather in larger flocks.
Frequently asked questions about the Common Raven
How intelligent are ravens?
Ravens are among the most intelligent animals known. They solve complex puzzles, use tools, recognize individual human faces, and appear to plan for the future, with abilities that rival great apes.
What is the difference between a raven and a crow?
Ravens are larger, with heavier beaks, shaggy throat feathers, and wedge-shaped tails, and they give a deep croak. Crows are smaller, caw at a higher pitch, and often gather in bigger flocks.
What do ravens eat?
Ravens are omnivores that eat almost anything, including carrion, insects, small animals, eggs, fruit, grain, and human food scraps, which helps them survive in many environments.
Can ravens talk or mimic sounds?
Yes. Ravens can imitate a wide range of sounds, including human words, and captive ravens sometimes mimic speech as clearly as a parrot.
How long do ravens live?
In the wild common ravens usually live 10 to 15 years, and birds in captivity have lived 40 years or more.
Where do common ravens live?
Common ravens range across the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic to deserts and mountains, and they adapt well to forests, coastlines, and even cities.
