The raven /crow is an intelligent and adaptive bird that is of interest to many people. Here are some interesting and unusual facts about the ravens /crow.
How long do ravens live?
There is a belief that ravens can live up to 300 years, but this is not true. A raven usually lives 10-15 years in the wild, but in captivity, with good care, representatives of the Corvus corax species can live longer. An example is the famous Tower ravens. The maximum lifespan of a raven living in the London fortress reached 40 years.
Raven or Crow: what is the difference?
To differ a crow from a raven, you shall listen to the sounds they produce. The crow is famous for its simple, straightforward croak, while the raven makes a deeper, guttural croak.
Also, if you look closely at the birds, you will notice that ravens have fluffier feathers around their heads and especially on their throats. The raven’s beak is thicker and has a large curve at the end.
When flying, you should pay attention to the birds’ tails. The crow’s tail feathers are about the same length, so its tail looks like a fan. The raven has different lengths of tail feathers, so its tail has a wedge or diamond shape.
Another distinguishing feature is the style of flight. The raven usually hovers above the ground, while the crow flaps its wings.
The differences between the two similar species are also evident when walking. Crows usually just walk on the ground, but ravens are distinguished by a combination of walking and jumping.
What do ravens eat?
The raven eats anything it can get – from insects, rodents and other birds to cereals, berries, vegetables and fruits. The raven will not disdain carrion or food waste. In general, this large bird is capable of catching even a hare or a small ungulate.
When getting food, the raven shows amazing intelligence – for example, it watches a fox stealing goose eggs, remembers where it hid the prey, and then destroys its hiding place. There have even been cases when the raven led wolves to a pack of deer or elk, and then finished off the remains of the predators’ meal.
Attitude to Humans
Wild ravens are wary of humans, but are not afraid of them at all. This bird likes to observe human behavior. Pet crows are very friendly with their owners and are devoted to them, and can even be jealous of a person towards his household or other pets
The most interesting and unusual facts about the ravens
- Ravens can use tools. They make and use simple tools, such as sticks and branches, to reach food or to extract objects from narrow crevices.
- Ravens can remember faces. They remember and recognize the faces of people and other animals, and remember the places where they find food.
- Ravens have strong social bonds. They live in large groups where they can cooperate and protect each other. They also make specific sounds that they use to communicate with each other.
- Ravens can show empathy. They show pity for other crows in trouble and even express their sorrow at the death of their comrades.
- Ravens can use spoons as mirrors to see their reflection and study their feathers and beak.
- Ravens are quite playful. They can take and hide objects, have “fights” and play with other crows.
- Ravens can learn and imitate the sounds of other animals, as well as the sounds of the environment and even human speech.
- Ravens have personalities: studies has shown that crows have individual characteristics and can distinguish themselves. Ravens / crows can remember the location of food and even return to the place where they found food in the past.
- Crows can remember where a dangerous incident occurred and avoid that place in the future, or warn other crows of potential danger.
