Cuervo común

El inteligente y sociable cuervo común ha sido objeto de la mitología, el folclore y la literatura a lo largo de los siglos. Distintas culturas indígenas americanas lo representan como un astuto embaucador, un guía y ayudante para los humanos, o un héroe cultural que contribuyó a la creación del mundo. Muchas culturas europeas asocian al cuervo con la muerte y la fatalidad, probablemente a raíz de una asociación muy real con los cuervos que se alimentan de cadáveres en el campo de batalla y de aquellos que murieron durante la Peste Negra. Los cuentos populares suecos los representan como los fantasmas de los asesinados, y las antiguas historias alemanas los describen como almas condenadas.

Los cuervos también son reconocidos por su inteligencia. Sus cerebros se encuentran entre los más grandes de cualquier especie de ave y muestran una excelente capacidad para resolver problemas. El biólogo Bernd Heinrich, conocido por sus estudios sobre el comportamiento de los cuervos, sostiene que este es uno de los cuatro únicos animales conocidos (junto con las abejas, las hormigas y los humanos) que demuestran "desplazamiento", la capacidad de comunicarse sobre eventos que no ocurren en el presente. Se ha observado que los cuervos demuestran esta capacidad cuando un ave solitaria descubre un gran cadáver custodiado por una pareja de cuervos. Se cree que el cuervo solitario regresa al dormidero y comunica el hallazgo a otras aves, y al día siguiente, una bandada de cuervos no apareados vuela hacia el cadáver y ahuyenta a la pareja.

Although raven populations are globally stable today, some populations have been harmed or eradicated entirely by human activities. These adaptable and crafty birds do well in human-altered landscapes, which can lead to conflict. In other areas, timber logging and expanding development have increased suitable habitat for ravens. Previously driven out of the eastern forests, raven populations have grown under federal protection from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Persecution persists, but not nearly to the extent it once did.

While raven populations are healthy overall, they are vulnerable in some parts of their range. Ravens need our help to overcome the undeserved assumptions that have led to their persecution, and to be recognized for the intelligent, resourceful, and culturally significant birds that they are. Science-backed active population management can provide solutions to human-wildlife conflicts, creating the conditions for both humans and wild birds to coexist and thrive.

The Common Raven is a beautiful, glossy black from beak to claw, the feathers sometimes showing a blue or purple iridescence. In flight, the wings are long and broad, sometimes described as “plank-like” in the manner of eagles and other soaring birds. The raven’s tail is distinctively wedge-shaped, distinguishing it from other similar birds in flight. The bill is large, and feathers extend from the base to at least halfway to the tip. Common Ravens also have prominent elongated feathers on the throat, commonly called “hackles,” that they sometimes raise in dominance displays.

Like many birds in the family Corvidae, the Common Raven is highly vocal and has an enormous repertoire encompassing a huge range of sounds. Common calls include croaks, squawks, rattles, knocks, and bell-like sounds, but ravens seem to have no conventional song. Researchers have catalogued as many as 79 distinct call types. Captive ravens are also known to mimic human speech, but mimicry has not been clearly documented in the wild. There are 20 calls for which researchers have arrived at some understanding of the context or motivation. The frequently-heard Kaw Call is somewhat ambiguous, being used in a number of contexts, but may serve to defend territory or for an individual to identify itself. Young birds and paired females give Yell Calls when hungry, sometimes to beg food from an adult or male mate, or to recruit other ravens to a food source such as a carcass.

Ravens are habitat generalists, living in remote deserts, forests, prairies, and coastal environments, as well as developed areas and land converted for agriculture and livestock.

• Found across a wide elevational range, from coastlines to alpine tundra
• Generally avoids larger cities and towns, but will forage at adjacent landfills and along roadways

The Common Raven is an undeniably fascinating animal. Intelligent, social, playful, and curious, these birds never cease to amaze and entertain. Where winds are high, such as mountaintops, ravens may be found riding the updraft. When predators such as eagles, owls, or even wolves are around, ravens may be found harassing them. At dusk, ravens often congregate at traditional roosting sites. These roosts can be massive, hosting hundreds of birds.