“It was the time of year when migrating crows wheeled across the sky, thunderous flocks that moved like a single veil, and I heard them, out there in the wild chirruping air. Turning to the window, I watched the birds fill the sky before disappearing, and when the air was still again, I watched the empty place where they had been.” – Sue Monk Kidd
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Human encounters with ravens and crows have been known to bring pictures of mystical or mysterious creatures to mind in some.
Both birds have been important mythological figures over time- the trickster, magician or honored bird. They have "talked" to humans via chants, dreams and through cultural ritual.
The crow and raven were sometimes known as messengers between here and "beyond."
They have always been revered for their personalities, and even thought of as clowns due to their clever antics.
These birds, both in the corvid family, which also include jays and magpies, are sometimes confused for one another.
Although they look very similar, American crows grow 17 to 20 inches in length and hold 32- to 40-inch wingspans, while the common raven is larger, at 24 to 27 inches in length and holds a 46- to 54-inch wingspan.
Ravens and crows can also be distinguished by their beaks. Ravens have much larger and sturdier bills than crows, along with disheveled-looking throat feathers.
While in flight, you may tell the two birds apart by their habits; ravens may soar, while crows do not.
Both the raven and crow numbers have dwindled and risen over time, and their numbers appear to be on the rise once again.
Scientists believe that ravens were in attendance during the North American Pleistocene era, as evidenced by numerous fossil remains in the Rancho La Brea area of Southern California.
Picture this: the early human hunter with his kill, and the ever-present raven standing by for his part of the bounty.
Crows are listed among one of the more intelligent of bird species, and the California Academy of Sciences states that their intelligence may rival that of the great apes, with their complex reasoning skills.
Both crows and ravens use their immense intelligence by performing fabulous feats of flying (crows), employ many different calls (ravens) and even display acts of playfulness. Both types of birds can use tools to obtain their food.
Crows span our continent, and are often heard cawing from meadows and treetops, and ravens prefer a habitat that is similar, including evergreen forests.
The diet of the raven includes small mammals, lizards, frogs, and trash. Crows like to eat seeds, worms, eggs, carrion and mice.
You have to agree, both of these black birds, who appear to be here to stay, remain enigmatic and intelligent.
Watch a video on avian intelligence by the California Academy of Sciences below.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
The Living Landscape: Enigmatic raven and crow
- Kathleen Scavone
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