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Common Raven Corvus corax


Description

Ravens are considered to be extremely intelligent and will bury or store surplus food. They will hide stored food under rocks or small holes in the ground and conceal it with leaves, twigs or other debris. They have also been observed placing nuts, such as walnuts, on a busy street for a car to come along and crush it. Experiments have also shown that Ravens are capable of using tools.

Ravens have a varied diet. They will eat anything edible, including insects, berries, fruit, other birds' eggs, carrion, nuts, and the garbage from human homes. They also kill small birds and mammals, including young rabbits and rats.

Like other corvids, ravens can copy sounds from their environment, including human speech.



Appearance

Entirely black plumage. Wedge-shaped tail. Large, thick, black bill. Throat appears shaggy because of long, lance-shaped feathers. Relatively short legs. Sexes similar, except female slightly smaller. 21 to 27 inches in length.



Habitat

Pretty much everywhere. Official habitat is coniferous forests and rocky coasts. Also deserts and arid mountains in the west.



Nesting

4-7 dull green eggs with brown spot. The eggs have a 18-21 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 38-44 days. The nest is a large mass of sticks lines with fur, moss, and lichens.






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