Our Resident Raven

Brought to Sharon Audubon Center: October 2006

History: The Newest Addition to the Audubon Family, the Raven is currently occupying one of our outdoor rehabilitation flight cages until he can be settled into a more permanent home. Although he does not yet have a name, some of the staff and volunteers have been calling him “Poe” or “Edgar”.  He is a very playful and vocal bird with a wide variety of vocalizations, though he has yet to utter “Nevermore”.

Raven

(Corvus corax)

Did You Know?

Ravens are considered among the most intelligent of all birds; like crows, they can learn to imitate a variety of sounds, including the human voice!

Weight: 24-30 ounces

Height:  20-25 inches

Wing span: 40-48 inches

Lifespan: 15 years in the wild

Description:  The raven is the largest member of the Crow Family. Their coloration is pure black with a purple or violet sheen that can be seen under certain light. The tail is wedge-shaped during flight, which distinguishes it from crows.

Call: In nature, their calls include guttural croaks, gurgling noises, and a sharp, metallic "tock.

Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats, from treeless tundra to coastal sea banks, rocky cliffs, forests, desert canyons, and open plains.

Range: Resident in North America from Alaska and Canada south through western United States to Baja California and Nicaragua. Found along the eastern United States from Canada to northern Georgia.

Diet:  Ravens are scavengers and will eat just about anything that is dead, but they will also hunt for mice, lizards, small birds, snakes, insects, and berries.