Raven's...

Today's blog is all about Ravens and I've photographed

them in many places over the years including here

in AZ again this morning.

   

Is it a Raven or a Crow?  Both are in the corvid family.

All photos here are of Ravens...  Both of these birds are extremely 

intelligent though ravens seem a bit smarter!!

Both can recognize human faces.   

(This photo was taken in Death Valley CA)

To help you recognize the difference,

Ravens are as big as Red-tailed Hawks, and crows are 

about the size of pigeons. The raven is all black, 

has a 3.5-4 ft wingspan and is around 24-27 inches 

from head to tail. The crow is also black, 

has a 2.5 ft wingspan and is about 17 inches long.

Both can recognize human faces. They are among

 the few animal species that use tools. 

They’re also really smart about getting into things, 

for example, figuring out how to unlatch containers to steal food.

Ravens have fluffier feathers and these two were waiting

to catch a Thermal while we were visiting the Petrified Forest

in AZ about a year ago.

They also use stunt flying to attract mates (barrel-rolling, 

flying upside-down, and somersaults), as this one proceeded

to do, you know where.  There was quite a breeze as

he took did a couple of hard flaps to get airborne.

They’re known for their ability to understand 

cause and how to solve complicated problems.

 

About 10 years ago in Dawson City YT, Canada, we watched

a Raven trying to get the remains of a burger out of

a garbage container.  When he picked it up, it fell

out of the wrapper and wrapper & Big Mac dropped back into the 

garbage can.  So what did the Raven do?  Well, he picked

the wrapper out first, put his foot on it on the edge

of the can and successfully retrieved & ate the burger!!!

They are very social animals and are constantly

calling to one another from high places.

 

And this morning was no exception as I began my walk

 under cloudy skies,  with a brisk breeze, at 5:30 a.m, 

and it was was already 79 degrees.

There was a proud Raven sitting on a rooftop

when a friend arrived.  Boy did I have my camera

in the right place at the right time...  and

they continued the process by calling a third Raven to join them!!! 

  I guess I'll quit raving about Ravens for awhile...

You can probably figure out who's on the top of my favorite bird list.