|
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
|
The boreal forest is home to so many interesting birds but
perhaps the most intelligent is the Raven.
What do Common Ravens look like?
Ravens are the largest of all the songbirds. They are 2 feet
long and have a 4 feet wingspan. They are jet black and have
shaggy feathers around their neck. Ravens have a distinct
bill with a curve on the upper part. Their tails are wedge
shaped and long.
What do ravens sound like?
Ravens make a very loud, sharp, krak sound. They also make
a sound like a low throaty rattle.
|
Click on photo to enlarge
|
Where do ravens live?
At one time, raven populations in the eastern US drastically
decreased because of the logging of old growth forests. Today
they are making a comeback and are found in a variety of different
habitats such as deserts, mountains, boreal forests and along
coastal cliffs. Boreal forests are coniferous forests that are
known for their long winters, short summers, and evergreen trees.
Common ravens are found throughout the Border Country and also
in Alaska, the western US, the Great Lakes area, the norteast,
and the Appalachian mountains. |
Click photo to enlarge
|
Did you know that ravens are extremely intelligent?
Ravens are known to find sick or dying animals and then to squawk
to alert predators of their find. Signaling to the predators
is advantageous for both the ravens as well as the predators.
The squawking strikes the predators' curiousity and they will
often wonder over and find the victim. Since the ravens are
not able to kill large animals they rely on wolves, foxes, or
eagles to do the job. Once the predator has made the kill, the
ravens move in to take their share of the meat. Wolves have
learned to fill up with all the food they can because the ravens
will eat the leftovers.Ravens are even known to signal to people
about a sick or injured animal.
Ravens sometimes "pick on" submissive wolves but they
don't pick on high ranking wolves.
It appears that ravens can distinguish dominant wolves from
submissive wolves. They seem to stay away from dominant wolves
when they are feeding because they realize they are more likely
to fight back. The ravens tend to swoop down and peck at submissive
wolves when they are feeding to try and make them leave the
kill.Next time you are in the woods listen for the loud squawks
of ravens and maybe you can even follow one to see what the
ravens have discovered! |
Click on photo to enlarge
|
What do raven nests look like?
Ravens make their nests out of sticks, bones, and soft material
such as wool or leaves. They have between 4-7 spotted eggs.
Sources
Farrand, J. Jr. 1988. An Audobon Handbook: Eastern Birds. McGraw-Hill
Book Company, New York.
Stensaas, M. 1993. Canoe country wildlife: a field guide to the
North Woods and Boundary Waters. Pfeifer- Hamilton, Duluth, MN.
Udvardy, M.D.F. 1977. The Audobon Society field guide to North American
birds: Western region. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
|
Back
to Boreal Forest Library Homepage
