Common Raven

This is a Common Raven (Corvus corax - also called a Northern Raven) seen flying over the ranch. The Raven is a VERY large, entirely black bird (legs, beak, eyes).

Ravens have been studied extensively by scientists. Confident and inquisitive, they have been determined to be among the smartest of all birds. They can figure out 'cause-and-effect'. For instance, a study in Wyoming discovered that during hunting season, the sound of a gunshot would draw ravens in to investigate a presumed carcass, but the birds would ignore other loud sounds such as an airhorn or car door slamming.

Ravens haven been implicated in peeling radar absorbent material at the Chinal Lake Naval Weapons Center, pecking holes in airplane wings, stealing golf balls, opening campers' tents, raiding cars left open at parks, and engaging in playful acts such as yanking the tails of dogs and cats. Young Ravens are fond of playing games with sticks, repeatedly dropping them, then diving to catch them in midair.