
How long are raven feathers? The raven plumage catalogued in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's “Feather Atlas,” which come from an Oregon male, include primaries that reach about 15 inches, secondaries (the shorter flight feathers closer to the bird's body) approaching 9 inches at the longest, and tailfeathers (or rectrices) that all exceed 8
Feather Metadata | Feather Total Length | |
---|---|---|
Specimen Number: | BRD 2862 | 21.2 cm |
Common Name: | Common Raven | 32.2 cm |
Latin Name: | Corvus corax | 36.2 cm |
Order: | Passeriformes | 37.0 cm |
What kind of feathers do Ravens have?
The raven’s lustrous feathers also have a blue or purplish iridescence. Common raven ( Corvus corax ). The common raven ( C. corax) is the largest of the perching birds: it reaches a length of up to 66 cm (26 inches) and has a wingspan of more than 1.3 metres (4 feet).
What is The wingspan of a raven?
The common raven (C. corax) is the largest of the perching birds: it reaches a length of up to 66 cm (26 inches) and has a wingspan of more than 1.3 metres (4 feet). (Some magpies and the lyrebird exceed the raven in length, but their bodies are smaller.)
What is the length of a raven's tail?
The length of the tail is 20 to 26.3 cm (7.9 to 10.4 in). The common raven has heavy-duty bill which goes even sharper with cutting edges.
How long do ravens live in the wild?
Lifespan/Longevity: A wild raven was recorded living for over 13 years. A lifespan of 6 to 10 years is the norm since there is a mortality rate of about 50 percent in the first year.

How long are raven tail feathers?
The raven plumage catalogued in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's “Feather Atlas,” which come from an Oregon male, include primaries that reach about 15 inches, secondaries (the shorter flight feathers closer to the bird's body) approaching 9 inches at the longest, and tailfeathers (or rectrices) that all exceed 8 ...
How do you tell the difference between a crow and a raven feather?
Raven feathers are very glossy with green, blue, and purple iridescence; they can also have a wet or oily sheen. Crow feathers are iridescent blue and purple but are far less shiny than those of ravens (although they still do have a little bit of sheen to them). Ravens have larger and curvier beaks than crows.
How long is a raven's wing?
3.5-4 ftThe raven is all black, has a 3.5-4 ft wingspan and is around 24-27 inches from head to tail. The crow is also black, has a 2.5 ft wingspan and is about 17 inches long.
What are raven feathers used for?
The instruments which we make can, on request, be voiced in natural raven's quill. Instrument number 1, the most elaborately made and decorated of the 4 Neapolitan instruments, has been quilled using natural bird quill.
Where can you find raven feathers?
SourcesThey may be found in the nest high up in a birch tree not far from a dead horse, just outside the palisade on the east side of Skalitz.A corpse (accident) on the west side of the map, west of Sasau and on the west side of the river has several.Herbalist Kunhuta sells them (she is to the north of Ledetchko)
How long is a crow feather?
Feather MetadataFeather Total LengthSpecimen Number:BRD 286014.5 cmCommon Name:American Crow22.7 cmLatin Name:Corvus brachyrhynchos26.0 cmOrder:Passeriformes26.8 cm8 more rows
How big is a raven bird?
1.8 – 2.6 ft.Common raven / Length (Adult)
What is bigger crow or raven?
You probably know that ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird's tail as it flies overhead. The crow's tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan.
Which is smarter crow or raven?
Both of these birds are extremely intelligent (though ravens seem a bit smarter than crows) and are quite playful. Ravens have at least 7 different calls and can imitate the calls of other birds (geese, jays, crows). They also use stunt flying to attract mates (barrel-rolling, flying upside-down, and somersaults).
Can I use a raven feather for smudging?
Hand Painted Raven Feather Make a horizontal cut in the tip to create a crow quill or use it for helping smudge your sacred space.
How do you get raven feathers?
Raven Feathers can be obtained by slaying Forest Ravens. Raven Feathers can be used as a substitute for Feathers to create Arrows or to create the Magic Map Focus.
Can you have raven feathers?
Apparently the feathers of certain domesticated species like chickens and turkeys are not protected, while eagles, hawks, jays, vultures, crows, ravens, and most other common native species are definitely protected.
How long is a raven's plumage?
In sunlight, the plumage can display a blue or purple sheen which is a result of iridescence. A mature common raven ranges between 54 and 67 cm (21" and 26") long, with a wingspan of 115 to 150 cm (45–51").
How big is a raven?
It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity, the common raven averages 63 centimetres (25 inches) in length and 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) in mass.
What is a raven bird?
The common raven ( Corvus corax ), also known as the western raven or northern raven when discussing the raven at the subspecies level, is a large all-black passerine bird. Found across the Northern Hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids.
What is the bird called that is a passerine?
For the butterfly called the common raven, see Papilio castor. The common raven ( Corvus corax ), also known as the western raven or northern raven when discussing the raven at the subspecies level, is a large all-black passerine bird. Found across the Northern Hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids.
What is a common raven?
For the German band, see Corvus Corax (band). For the butterfly called the common raven, see Papilio castor. The common raven ( Corvus corax ), also known as the western raven or northern raven when discussing the raven at the subspecies level, is a large all-black passerine bird.
Where do ravens come from?
The common raven evolved in the Old World and crossed the Bering land bridge into North America. Recent genetic studies, which examined the DNA of common ravens from across the world, have determined that the birds fall into at least two clades: a California clade, found only in the southwestern United States, and a Holarctic clade, found across the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Birds from both clades look alike, but the groups are genetically distinct and began to diverge about two million years ago.
What are the predators of ravens?
Predators of its eggs include owls, martens, and sometimes eagles. Ravens are quite vigorous at defending their young and are usually successful at driving off perceived threats. They attack potential predators by flying at them and lunging with their large bills. Humans are occasionally attacked if they get close to a raven nest, though serious injuries are unlikely. There are a few records of predation by large birds of prey. Their attackers in America have reportedly included great horned owls, northern goshawks, bald eagles, golden eagles and red-tailed hawks. It is possible that the two hawk species only attack young ravens; in one instance a peregrine falcon swooped at a newly fledged raven but was chased off by the parent ravens.
What is a raven bird?
Ravens are confident, inquisitive birds that strut around or occasionally bound forward with light, two-footed hops. In flight they are buoyant and graceful, interspersing soaring, gliding, and slow flaps. 454154 from All About Birds, Cornell Lab on Vimeo. Play.
What is the difference between a raven and a crow?
In flight, ravens have long, wedge-shaped tails. They're more slender than crows, with longer, narrower wings, and longer, thinner “fingers” at the wingtips. Common Ravens are entirely black, right down to the legs, eyes, and beak.
What is a common raven?
Common Ravens are entirely black, right down to the legs, eyes, and beak. Common Ravens aren’t as social as crows; you tend to see them alone or in pairs except at food sources like landfills. Ravens are confident, inquisitive birds that strut around or occasionally bound forward with light, two-footed hops.
Where do ravens live?
Common Ravens live in open and forest habitats across western and northern North America. This includes deciduous and evergreen forests up to treeline, as well as high desert, sea coast, sagebrush, tundra, and grasslands. They do well around people, particularly rural settlements but also some towns and cities.
How big are ravens?
Adult ravens are 54 and 67 cm (21″ and 26″) long with a wingspan measuring up to 115 to 130 cm (45-51″). Northern ravens are one of the heaviest of passerines weighing about 0.69 to 2 kg (1.5 to 4.4 lb). In California, ravens are 784 g (1.728 lb) in weight while those living in Alaska have an average mass of 1,135 g (2.502 lb).
What is a raven bird?
Raven Bird Facts | Anatomy, Diet, Habitat, Behavior. The raven or Common raven (Corvus corax) is the largest perching bird in the world. It is among the most intelligent of birds. It is thought to feed on small animals—both living and dead. The bird is found all throughout the northern Hemisphere which is why it is also called northern raven.
What do ravens eat?
They will eat small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, earthworms, slugs, small mammals and birds. In urban areas ravens feed on human food waste particularly those containing fat. Ravens also supplement their diet with bird eggs or even nestlings. They pose greater threats to the young Californian condor.
How many eggs do ravens lay?
Female ravens lay up to 3 to 7 egg s (typically 4 – 6 eggs) in late February . The eggs are pale-bluish with brown blotches on it. In colder climates such as in Greenland and Tiber, the eggs are laid in April. In Pakistan, female lays eggs in December.
How long do ravens incubate eggs?
Ravens attain maturity at 2 – 6 years age. They build nests with large twigs or sticks and are lined with roots, bark and mud.
Why do ravens call wolves?
Studies suggest that ravens often call wolves to the site of dead animals so that wolves open the carcass for ravens to feed on. Ravens are known to be the master of acrobatic flights performing aerial maneuvers with absolute grace. It can even flip upside down for short distances.
When do ravens lay eggs in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, female lays eggs in December. The breeding interval is of one year. Common ravens mark territory before they start breeding and nest-building. The size of the territory depends on the availability of food—the more abundant the food is the greater the size of the territory.
A Raven is a really large crow
The common raven Corvus corax (which is Latin for “crow with a straight beak”) is the largest crow in the world. It’s bigger than a hawk, and it’s taller than other crows.
Ravens have very few natural enemies
The main enemies of ravens are the raptors, such as the Golden Eagle, falcons, and Great Horned Owls.
Groups of ravens are described in colorful terms
We’re used to talking about “flocks” of birds, and it is proper to refer to a “flock” of ravens.
Of all animals, ravens behave in ways most similar to humans
Ravens, like humans, don’t always behave in predictable ways. Ants, for example, will follow pheromones down a trail to food and bring it back to the anthill no matter what.
Adult ravens eat almost anything
Ravens are unique among the passerine or perching birds in that they don’t have any pre-programmed dietary requirements. Ravens have been observed eating fresh roadkill, the grubs growing on rotten roadkill, dog droppings, and Cheetos.
Ravens produce enormous amounts of digestive waste
A side effect of eating huge amounts of waste is producing huge amounts of waste, known as mutes. Ravens produce about the same volume of waste material as they take in as food.
Ravens sometimes adopt the eggs of other birds
Ravens instinctively react to round objects as potential food, because they usually are. If they encounter a chicken egg, a robin egg, an Easter egg, or even an ostrich egg lying on the ground, they will automatically peck at it and try to eat it.
Raven vs Crow Size: Wingspan
One obvious difference between raven vs crow size lies in their wingspan. A raven has a much larger wingspan compared to a crow. Crows have an average wingspan of 1-2 feet total, while ravens have a wingspan of 3-4 feet. This is a significant difference between these two birds.
Raven vs Crow Size: Beak Size
Another key difference between raven vs crow size is the size of their beaks. Ravens have a much larger beak than crows do, often by an inch or so. The shape differs from the crow’s beak as well. Let’s talk about this in more detail.
Raven vs Crow Size: Body Size
The overall body size is another difference between raven vs crow size. For example, even the largest crow will not match the size of a raven. Ravens are usually double the size of a crow, both in length and weight. This is an important distinction to make between these two birds.
Raven vs Crow Size: Tail Shape and Size
The shape and size of a raven’s tail differs from the shape and size of a crow’s tail. For example, ravens have tails made of much longer feathers while crows maintain shorter tails overall. The inherent shape of their tails differs as well. Let’s take a closer look at this.
Raven vs Crow Size: Call Relative to Size
Given the larger size of ravens, their calls are much deeper and reverberate more than the call of a crow.

Overview
Description
A mature common raven ranges between 54 and 67 cm (21" and 26") long, with a wingspan of 115 to 150 cm (45–51"). Recorded weights range from 0.69 to 2 kg (1.5 to 4.4 lb), thus making the common raven one of the heaviest passerines. Birds from colder regions such as the Himalayas and Greenland are generally larger with slightly larger bills, while those from warmer regions are smaller wit…
Taxonomy
The common raven was one of the many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, and it still bears its original name of Corvus corax. It is the type species of the genus Corvus, derived from the Latin word for 'raven'. The specific epithet corax is the Latinized form of the Greek word κόραξ, meaning 'raven' or 'crow'.
The modern English word raven has cognates in many other Germanic languages, including Old …
Distribution and habitat
The common raven can thrive in varied climates; indeed this species has the largest range of any member of the genus, and one of the largest of any passerine. They range throughout the Holarctic from Arctic and temperate habitats in North America and Eurasia to the deserts of North Africa, and to islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the British Isles, they are more common in Scot…
Behaviour
Common ravens usually travel in mated pairs, although young birds may form flocks. Relationships between common ravens are often quarrelsome, yet they demonstrate considerable devotion to their families.
Owing to its size, gregariousness and its defensive abilities, the common raven has few natural predators. Predators of its eggs include owls, martens, and so…
Relationship with humans
Compared to many smaller Corvus species (such as American crow), ravens prefer undisturbed mountain or forest habitat or rural areas over urban areas. In other areas, their numbers have increased dramatically and they have become agricultural pests. Common ravens can cause damage to crops, such as nuts and grain, or can harm livestock, particularly by killing young goat kids, lambs …
Further reading
• Heinrich, B. (1999). Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds. New York: Cliff Street Books. ISBN 978-0-06-093063-9
External links
• RSPB: Raven
• Common Raven Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• "Common raven media". Internet Bird Collection.
• Ageing and sexing (PDF; 3.1 MB) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze