Common Raven

The Common Raven is a massive, widespread corvid found across much of the Northern Hemisphere, from Arctic tundra to desert canyons. Its feathers are large, solidly black, and often show a strong glossy iridescence in shades of purple, green, or blue depending on the light. Because ravens range across such varied and often remote terrain, their feathers can turn up anywhere from mountain cliffs to coastal bluffs to open desert.

Size and Shape

Raven flight feathers are among the largest of any North American songbird, with primaries that can exceed 30 cm; tail feathers are broad and taper to create the bird's signature wedge-shaped tail silhouette in flight.

Color and Pattern

• Entirely black with a pronounced glossy sheen
• Iridescence often more vivid than in crows, showing purple, green, or bronze highlights
• Throat feathers (hackles) are elongated and pointed, unlike the smooth throat feathers of crows

Distinguishing from Similar Species

Raven feathers are distinctly larger, heavier, and more strongly iridescent than American Crow feathers. The elongated, shaggy throat (hackle) feathers unique to ravens are a useful identification clue if found, since crows lack this pointed throat feathering.

Adults are uniformly glossy black year-round with no differences between sexes and no seasonal plumage shift. Juveniles resemble adults but their feathers may appear slightly less glossy until the first complete molt. Adults molt once yearly in a gradual sequence after breeding, typically over the summer months.

Common Ravens have one of the broadest ranges of any songbird, occurring across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, in habitats ranging from Arctic tundra and boreal forest to deserts, mountains, and coastlines. Most populations are resident year-round, though some northern or high-elevation birds shift to lower ground in winter.

Ravens are highly intelligent omnivores, feeding on carrion, small animals, eggs, insects, and refuse, and are known for sophisticated problem-solving and food-caching behavior. They build large stick nests on cliffs, trees, or human structures, often reusing the same site for years. Their vocal repertoire is extensive, including a deep, croaking "gronk" call distinct from the crow's higher "caw," along with numerous other sounds used in social interactions. Ravens often form long-term pair bonds and can be seen performing aerial acrobatics, including rolls and dives.