Ravens in the Glebe
A common raven calling, perched atop a utility pole, during a snowy day in the Glebe
Photo: Ben Campbell-Rosser
Ravens in the Glebe
By Ben and Oliver CampbellRosser
You’re walking in the Glebe and hear a loud croaking sound from up high. You look up and there, perched in plain sight, is a large back bird. Surprised, you might think “that’s the biggest crow I’ve ever seen.” You are, however, most probably looking at a common raven (Corvus corax) – they have been regulars this winter above Bank Street.
Common ravens are entirely black. This includes their thin legs, heavy bill, small eyes and shiny feathers. They are big birds. The sexes are similar, but males may be a bit larger. Adults weigh from 0.69 to two kilograms. Body length ranges from about a half to almost three quarters of a meter, with an impressive wingspan of just over one meter. The neck is thick, throat feathers are shaggy, and the upper half of the bill is larger than the lower. The tip of the bill is hooked slightly downward.
Crows and ravens are almost lookalike relatives, but it is easy to spot the differences. The tail feathers of a crow are the same length, creating a chopped-off, fanshaped profile during flight. The central feathers in the raven tail are longer than those on the sides, resulting in a large wedge or diamondshaped tail profile during flight. When flying, crows usually flap their wings; ravens frequently glide while holding their wings outstretched. Crows lack the shaggy throat feathers and have less robust bills with the two halves being of similar length. Crows are on average about half the weight and three quarters the size of ravens. You are more likely to see a crow – recent bird counts in the Ottawa area show crows outnumber ravens at least 100 to one. In the Glebe, it’s not unusual to see crows chasing a raven.
Ravens were common in this area during the 1800s but became less so during the middle half of the 1900s. This was due in part to ravens eating carcasses that had been poisoned to kill wolves. Also, because they were considered vermin, ravens were shot. The birds began to make a comeback in the late 1900s, and their numbers continue to increase.
The common raven is a remarkably successful species. They are yearlong residents throughout most of Canada, the western U.S. and Mexico, most of Europe and central and northern Asia. They are found in a diversity of habitats – coastal, sagebrush, grassland, tundra, high desert and deciduous and evergreen forests. Ravens are opportunistic hunters and scavengers. They survive on carrion, insects, grains, berries, fruit, rodents, nestlings, eggs and human food waste. The average lifespan is 10 to 15 years in the wild. In captivity, ravens may live more than 40 years.
Their intelligence is key to their adaptability and success. Ravens are believed to be the smartest of all birds. Their brain is the size of a walnut and is the largest compared to body size of any avian species. They are confident and curious creatures. They use stones, feathers, twigs, bark and evergreen needles as tools. Much like other birds, ravens learn through trial and error, but they also learn from one other and can solve problems by thinking things through. Ravens have problem-solving capabilities comparable to a sevenyearold child and forward-planning abilities greater than those of the average fouryearold. Ravens like to play. They are skilled aerial acrobats, sometimes performing rolls and somersaults or plummeting, seemingly just for the fun of it. Ravens have a wide range of vocalizations and are amazing mimics. Faking the calls of other species, bird and mammal, they can deceive and manipulate. Captive ravens can, like parrots, copy human speech. In homage to Edgar Allan Poe, at least one raven was taught to say “nevermore”.
People have been long been fascinated by the raven. It is part of the mythologies and folklore of many ancients, including Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse and Pacific Northwest. For example, the Norse god Odin had two ravens, Hugin and Munin, whom he used as spies and messengers. Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest have a deep relationship with the bird, which is both a creator god and a childish trickster. Ravens also permeate popular culture. The Carleton Ravens varsity teams and the video game character Corviknight attest to this.
The next time you gaze skyward and spot a great black bird, perhaps you will be able to identify a raven. You will be seeing something wild and magnificent. And, who knows, maybe it has a message from Odin.
For additional information about ravens and crows, see the article, by Jeanette Rive, entitled “Corvids – the smartest birds around” in the September 2023 issue of the Glebe Report.
Ben and Oliver Campbell-Rosser are residents of the Glebe. Oliver is a Grade 7 student at Ottawa Carleton Virtual Elementary School, and Ben is a Glebe Report carrier and retired academic.