Ravens

For other uses, see Raven (disambiguation).

Raven
Common Raven
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus
Species
See text.

Raven is the common name given to the largest species of passerine birds in the genus Corvus. Corvids are also commonly referred to as crows and other species in the same genus include jackdaws and rooks.

In most of Europe and North America, raven is used as a synonym for the widespread Common Raven, and much of the literature and culture surrounding ravens refers to that species.

Ravens have high intelligence and are perhaps the smartest birds.Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All about birds: Raven. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. Their intelligence might be on par with canids such as wolves.PBS. Raven. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.

An obsolete collective noun for a group of ravens (or at least the Common Raven) is an "unkindness".Baltimore Bird Club. Group Name for Birds: A Partial List. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.

Species

• Common Raven (C. corax)
• Australian Raven (C. coronoides)
• Forest Raven (C. tasmanicus)
• Little Raven (C. mellori)
• Thick-billed Raven (C. crassirostris)
• White-necked Raven (C. albicollis)
• Brown-necked Raven (C. ruficollis)
• Chihuahuan Raven (C. cryptoleucos)
• Fan-tailed Raven (C. rhipidurus)
• New Zealand Raven (C. antipodum, extinct)
• Chatham Islands Raven (C. moriorum, extinct)

See also

• Cultural depictions of ravens
• Raven in mythology

Notes

External links

• Raven videos on the Internet Bird Collection

• North American ravens on eNature

• Ravens and Crows at the Pennsylvania State Game Commission site

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia