Quick answer
A common raven can reach about Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
Key takeaway
A common raven can reach up to about 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
Common Raven top speed
Published estimates put common raven speed near Up to 80 km/h (50 mph). These are usually peak sprint figures, not cruising speeds held for long distances across Forests, mountains, deserts, coasts, and cities.
Sprint versus endurance
Most animals accelerate hard for capture or escape, then recover. Open ground favours higher recorded speeds; dense cover favours agility over raw pace.
Anatomy behind common raven speed
Limb proportions, muscle fibre mix, and mass (about 1.2 kg) shape acceleration and top end. Heavier individuals may hit hard but tire sooner.
Reading speed claims
Methods differ (radar, filming, anecdote). Prefer ranges from recent field studies over viral single numbers, and never try to outrun wildlife.
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.
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.
Sources
Common Raven FAQs
How fast is a common raven?
A common raven can reach up to about 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
What is the scientific name of the common raven?
Corvus corax — used in research and conservation listings for common ravens.
What do common ravens eat?
Common Ravens eat carrion, small animals, fruit and scraps, with seasonal and regional variation in Forests, mountains, deserts, coasts, and cities.
Where do common ravens live?
They are associated with Forests, mountains, deserts, coasts, and cities. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of common ravens?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.