The raven is the largest of the British crows. Once a common sight the raven has been driven into western and northern Britain and now inhabits areas around hills and sea cliffs. Ravens love to fly and play and are often seen picking up stones and then dropping them from great heights for other ravens to catch. They are one of the only bird species that appear to love to play in flight.
Name
Raven (Corvus corax)
Lifestyle
Habitat
As well as in woodland, the raven can also breed on rocky coasts and mountains. The nest is usually on a sheltered ledge or in the fork of a tree.
Breeding
Ravens nest early, gathering nest building material in February. Ravens maintain lifelong pair bonds and use the same nest sites year after year. They nest build on crags and ledges and also in trees. The nest of large twigs and earth, lined with moss and wool is built by both male and female. In March the female lays one clutch of 3 to 7 eggs which take approximately 20 days to hatch.
Development
The fledglings are ready to fly in 34-50 days.
Diet
Ravens are omnivorous ground feeders, with a diet that consists of carrion from dead sheep or deer. They will also eat small mammals, frogs, lizards, insects, grubs, berries, nuts, shellfish, and even refuse. They will also stock up food supplies for leaner times.
Threats
Historically ravens have been preyed upon by man and shot when confused with crows or birds of prey. Large scale afforestation affected raven numbers by removing sheep from the uplands.
Identification
Completely black with blue, purplish and green gloss to the feathers and black legs and beak and a brown eye. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter with paler eyes.
Long and pointed throat feathers give the raven a bearded appearance or the impression of a big head or shaggy throat. It is distinguished from the carrion crow by the larger, heavier and more powerful bill.
In flight look for large head, long neck, well-separated wing tips and wedge shaped tail.
The raven’s call, a deep, croaking kronk kronr, is very distinctive.
how we manage our woods
As ravens primarily nest on cliff edges the management of woodlands for ravens is minimal. However in Newborough Forest on Anglesey huge numbers of ravens roost during the summer months. It has been estimated that from 800 - 2000 ravens roost in the forest on one evening.
did you know
The raven is a bird which features heavily in tales and folklore.
vital statistics
Length: 64cm
Weight: 800 – 1500g
Wingspan: 120-150cm
UK numbers: 7,000 breeding pairs
