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Common Raven Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    Not just large but massive, with a thick neck, shaggy throat feathers, and a Bowie knife of a beak. In flight, ravens have long, wedge-shaped tails. They're more slender than crows, with longer, narrower wings, and longer, thinner “fingers” at the wingtips.

    Relative Size

    About half again larger than an American Crow or Chihuahuan Raven

    Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 22.1-27.2 in (56-69 cm)
      • Weight: 24.3-57.3 oz (689-1625 g)
      • Wingspan: 45.7-46.5 in (116-118 cm)

    Shape of the Common Raven© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay Library