Bird Spotlight: Common Raven
By Sevilla Rhoads
Photos by Sevilla Rhoads
Corvus Corax
Who is that striking dark figure watching you with keen black eyes? The subject of legends across cultures and time, Sunriver is a place the world’s largest and most intelligent songbird calls home. This glossy black bird, appearing to magically absorb sunlight, was revered by the ancient Celts and Nordic peoples, then deeply feared in medieval Europe. Native American tribes almost all feature this mystical creature in their legends as do many other traditions across the globe. Yes, this famous bird is the uncommonly fascinating Common Raven.
If you feel that Raven watching you is plotting something, you are probably right. Some scientists consider the Raven capable of abstract thought and most agree it is one of the most intelligent animals. Previously, researchers thought only Chimpanzees might share with humans the ability to plan and imagine. However, Ravens can plan ahead, solve multi-step problems, and even use and fashion simple tools. From Roman mosaics and Aesop’s fables depicting Ravens (sometimes crows) dropping rocks in containers to raise the water to a drinking level, throughout history humans have admired, and feared the Raven’s thinking skills.
Even Audubon, who shot plenty of birds himself, noted about the Raven, “His usefulness is forgotten, his faults are remembered and multiplied by imagination; and whenever he presents himself he is shot at, because from time immemorial ignorance, prejudice, and destructiveness have operated on the mind of man to his detriment. … Some say they destroy the Raven because he is black; others, because his croaking is unpleasant and ominous!” Audubon then describes how farmers applying scientific observations and reason understood Ravens actually benefitted their farms in many ways, but he concludes: “Yes, good reader, the farmer knows all this well, but he also knows his power, and, interfere as you may, with tale of pity or of truth, the bird is a Raven, and, as LAFONTAINE has aptly and most truly said, “La loi du plus fort est toujours la meilleure!” Blaming Ravens for human-caused problems continues to this day where they are shot, trapped, and poisoned for reasons some scientists dispute as lacking factual support.
With one of the largest ranges for a songbird, the Raven lives in almost every temperate area of the world but are concentrated in the northern hemisphere. Likely due to their intelligence, Ravens adapt to many habitats. For example, they have figured out where humans have created easy food sources such as landfills. Perhaps needing space and suitable nesting sites, unlike crows, Ravens rarely live in cities. Wherever they live, Ravens have interesting relationships with the other animals around them. Preferring to scavenge for food, Ravens figure out where other species create carrion sources. They patrol the roads around Sunriver, so they are usually the first responders to clean up roadkill.
One particularly close inter-species relationship reported and studied throughout history is between ravens and wolves. In some places, people call ravens ‘wolf birds.’ Scientists in places like Yellowstone believe ravens and wolves communicate with each other about food. Ravens have been observed playing stick games with wolf pups, some of whom they can develop a special bond. Wolves were once common in Central Oregon, so perhaps Sunriver once had wolf Raven friendships.
Ravens have clever ways of stealing food from predators. A favorite trick is pulling on the predator’s tail! There is an entire Twitter site devoted to photos and videos of Ravens tugging tails to distract predators, including the tails of otters, a Polar Bear, a big cat, geese and even flying birds of prey. Looking over the Sunriver golf courses and meadows, you well might see a Raven chasing a bird of prey either to grab its catch or shoo it away. Ravens also attack drones.
So much more could be said about the Raven, but a final note for birders in Sunriver is to pay attention to Raven calls and behavior if you are looking for owls and other birds of prey. Ravens (and jays) often protest loudly when a bird of prey is hiding nearby.
To read more of Audubon’s notes on the Raven and other birds see: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america
