Ravens and crows are members of the Corvid family and there are 5 species in Australia. They are all similar in size and colouration and are difficult to tell apart.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The list includes two, referred to as crows and 3 ravens. The most common species in the local area is the Australian Raven.
Australian Ravens are found in Eastern, Southern, and central Australia, in all types of habitat.
They are large black birds with white eyes and have longer feathers on their throats, referred to as hackles. Young birds have brown eyes, shorter hackles and often have pink fleshy skin beside the bill.
Ravens are usually seen in pairs and in flight can be mistaken for a raptor. They have a distinctive call ending with a long drawn out wail and often call while in flight. Ravens have a large repertoire of calls including mimicry.
Related content:
Like some other bird species, they have adapted to urban areas resulting in a population boom, generated by the garbage left by humans. While they are mostly carnivorous, they will also eat eggs, fruit, grains, and insects.
A large untidy nest is built on a bowl-shaped platform of sticks, lined with grass, bark and feathers, usually in a tall tree. Only one brood is raised each year.
The Corvid family are some of the most intelligent birds and have a large brain for their body size.
They are highly social and curious with exceptional long-term memory and are renowned for their problem-solving ability. Some crows have been known to use objects as tools to get food out of crevices. They play tricks on each other and other species and Australian Ravens are renowned for stealing golf balls and flying away with them. Do they think they are eggs or are they just being mischievous?
These birds watch and learn and remember. They recognise and avoid people carrying weapons, avoid traps and follow and harass larger predators for food. They have a complex social system and keep in contact with other members of their flock daily.
One of the most fascinating things about bird watching is observing the behaviour of birds and the interactions and sometimes, co-operation between species. It is certainly clear that we have a lot to learn about our feathered friends and perhaps should stop using the derogatory term "bird brain".
Hunter Bird Observer's Club website can be found at www.hboc.org.au