Common Raven

Lore & Background

The common raven is among the world's most intelligent animals, with an encephalization quotient equal to that of many non-human primates. Ravens have been known to associate with other animals such as coyotes and wolves, using their calls to notify these animals when an injured prey is near. This interaction is most noticeable in winter, where ravens are associated with wolf packs nearly 100% of the time. Ravens can locate injured animals like elk and call out to wolves to kill them. They have been seen playing with wolf cubs, using sticks, picking at their tails, or flying around them. This symbiotic relationship is mutualistic: ravens help wolves find prey, and when the wolves kill them, the ravens can eat too. However, ravens may sometimes eat more of the prey than the wolf does, which has been linked to wolf pack size—some researchers suggest that one reason wolves hunt in larger packs is so that ravens and other scavengers get less of the food.

In Their Own Story

In the depths of winter, a raven perched on a bare branch watched a pack of wolves moving through the snow. The raven let out a series of guttural croaks, and the wolves responded, following the bird's lead. The raven had spotted an injured elk, and its calls guided the wolves to the kill. When the wolves finished, the raven descended to feed on the remains, its wedge-shaped tail steadying it as it tore at the meat. This scene, repeated across the Northern Hemisphere, is a testament to the raven's ability to form strategic alliances. The raven's trust in the wolves it follows is evident: when encountering a carcass killed by animals other than wolves, it is more apprehensive to eat from it. The raven's intelligence, its ability to count, to play, and to communicate, makes it a creature of legend and science alike.

Reader's Guide

The common raven is a large passerine, ranging from 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in length, with a robust and slender appearance. It has a small, rounded head, a strong, conical beak that is elongated and pointed with a slightly curved end, strong legs, and a short, wedge-shaped tail. Its plumage is dominated by black, often with metallic iridescence. The common raven is found across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. It is an opportunistic omnivore, scavenging on carrion and hunting small prey. Ravens are known to associate with wolves and coyotes, using their calls to notify these predators of injured prey. They are also known to mob owls, especially great horned owls, which are significant predators of corvids. In flight, ravens are distinguished by their wedge-shaped tail and deep wingbeats. They are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds, often nesting on cliffs or in large trees.

Did You Know?

• The genus name Corvus is Latin for 'raven'.
• The common raven is the type species of the genus, named by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
• Ravens have been known to associate with wolves nearly 100% of the time in winter, using their calls to notify wolves of injured prey.
• Ravens can locate injured animals like elk and call out to wolves to kill them.
• Ravens have been seen playing with wolf cubs, using sticks, picking at their tails, or flying around them.