It’s well known that a group of crows is called a “murder” and you may have also heard of a “parliament” of owls, but did you know the term for a group of ravens is an “unkindness.” Ravens are the largest of the songbirds, and are considered by many to be the most intelligent bird in the world. Common ravens are found throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere.
Ravens in Folklore
These Corvids are featured in the folklore and mythology of many cultures. In the Islamic version of the creation story, the Qur’an tells us that when Cain killed Abel, a raven showed him how to bury his brother’s body. In the Christian Bible, the Book of Genesis, we learn that the first bird Noah sent from the Ark was a raven. When the raven didn’t return, Noah released the dove. From Scandinavia to ancient Ireland and from Wales to Siberia, the Raven is seen in many lights. Closer to home, Ravens feature prominently in the mythology of indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. The Raven is seen as the creator of the world.
Adaptable
Ravens are adaptable, and can be found from desert to the arctic. Their large size and thick plumage protect them from the frigid cold of Arctic winters. Their over-sized bill is sturdy enough to allow them to chip into carcasses that are frozen solid. Ravens have learned to exploit more novel situations than other birds. While they ignore or avoid most loud noises, some have learned to approach after a gunshot, knowing a carcass or gut pile left by a hunter may be near.
They sometimes work in pairs to raid seabird colonies, with one bird distracting an incubating adult and the other waiting to grab an egg or chick as soon as it’s uncovered. They’ve been seen waiting in trees as ewes give birth, then attacking the newborn lambs. They’ve learned how to open packages, backpacks, and the latches on many coolers to get at the food inside. In captivity, they’ve learned an impressive number of “tricks” and figured out puzzles that even some humans would have trouble with. Increasing raven populations threaten some vulnerable species including desert tortoises, Marbled murrelets, and Least terns.
Mischievous
Ravens can cause trouble for people too. They’ve been implicated in causing power outages by contaminating insulators on power lines, fouling satellite dishes at the Goldstone Deep Space Site, peeling radar absorbent material off buildings at the Chinal Lake Naval Weapons center, pecking holes in airplane wings, stealing golf balls, opening campers’ tents, and raiding cars left open at parks.
The Raven, seen in many different ways by many different people, is a fascinating member of our avian community. To learn more, pick up the book “Bird Brains” (shown above) by Alberta’s own Candace Savage on your next trip to the Wild Bird Store.
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