adult

adult in flight European distribution adult in snow

Identification

The Raven is completely black, like a Carrion Crow and its greater size may not be obvious from a distance. It must therefore be recognised by differences in shape. The big, deep bill, big head and shaggy mane of a Raven are distinctive at rest and in flight when the long diamond-shaped tail is even more convincing. In flight the long head and long tail give the Raven the appearance of a Maltese Cross in the sky.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on coastal and inland cliffs, and isolated clumps of trees.

Behaviour

Performs remarkable acrobatics during its displays including the impressive feat of rolling over so that for a short time it actually flies upside-down.

Migration

Only the northernmost birds (north of latitude 60 degrees) are migratory. In other populations, the adults are sedentary but the immatures are dispersive, joining non-breeding flocks for their first few years.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Raven is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Eigg, Highland 02/08/2010	North Uist, Outer Hebrides 18/07/2010	Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada 23/05/2010	Angle Bay, Pembrokes 19/06/2010	Angle Bay, Pembrokes 19/06/2010
undisc. site, Warks 10/06/2010	undisc. site, Warks 27/04/2010	Mullion, Cornwall 28/09/2007	Westward Ho!, Devon 28/04/2010	Land's End, Cornwall 12/05/2010

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Raven breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	RSPB: Raven increase does not spell the end for threatened waders	Wednesday 17th February 2010
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