The largest of all passerines (perching birds), the common raven is an iridescent black bird with a “Roman nose”, shaggy ruff at throat, and a diamond wedge-shaped tail. The species name “corax” is from their deep croaking voice of “kloo-klok”, “kraaak” and “tok”. In flight they make hollow knocking melodious sounds.

The raven is an intelligent inquisitive bird, with reasoning. In captivity, ravens live up to 24 years. A scavenger, they feed on deer carcasses, beetles, small mammals, birds, frogs, and corn. Nests are high in a tree or cliff-face, bulky with sticks, bones, debris, shiny objects, and wool. With lifelong pair bonds, courtship flights show amazing tumbling displays.

Seen at forested edges from sub-alpine to shrub steppe, the common raven is a year-round resident from the Arctic to Nicaragua. In Mexico, they are found in Baja California, Chiapas, Veracruz, and Revilla Gigedo Island and are known as “cuervo comun."

The mythical view of ravens as powerful, knowing and somewhat prophetic is virtually universal. Sagacious, crafty, resourceful -- the raven, over the centuries, has been a major character in the lore of some North American tribes.