Guest Author - Lisa Shea

The Raven (Corvus Corax) is a large cousin of the crow, and its black form is often associated with Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem.

Larger and more angular than crows, the raven can grow to 27" long with a wingspan of 5 feet. They can be found all over North America and in much of the rest of the world as well. They are a deep purple to black color.

Ravens mate for life, and have 4-7 eggs each year. They can live up to 50 years if in a safe location, and prefer to avoid humans. They like isolated areas in the coastal and mountain regions, with woods to hunt in. They'll eat just about anything, from seeds to insects to birds and rodents.

The raven is a popular symbol in many cultures. To the native Americans he's a trickster, able to survive in harsh conditions and have fun. In European cultures he's both a symbol of strength (because of his ability to survive) and of death (because of his fondness for carrion).


Get Raven & Hitchcock photo from Art.com

Read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe

The Birding Encyclopedia