Australian Raven

Taxobox
name = Australian Raven
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Corvidae
genus = "Corvus"
species = "C. coronoides"
binomial = "Corvus coronoides"
binomial_authority = Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
range_

It is omnivorous and has adapted well to urban environments and is a common city bird in Sydney.

Taxonomy and naming

The Australian Raven was first described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827; [cite journal | author = Vigors, N.A. & Horsfield, T. | date = 1827 | title = A description of the Australian birds in the collection of the Linnean Society; with an attempt at arranging them according to their natural affinities. | journal = Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. | volume = 15 | pages = 170–331] its specific epithet "coronoides" "crow-shaped" is derived from the Greek "corone"/κορονη "crow" and "eidos"/ειδος "shape" or "form".cite book | author = Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott | year = 1980 | title = A Greek-English Lexicon (Abridged Edition) | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = United Kingdom | id = ISBN 0-19-910207-4] The two naturalists regarded the Australian Raven as very similar in appearance to the Carrion Crow ("C. corone") of Europe.Higgins "et al.", p. 690]

Although called a raven, its closest affinities lie with the other four species of Australian corvid, which include the Torresian Crow and Little Crow as well as the Forest Raven and Little Raven.

Alternate names sometimes seen include "Southern Raven", and "Kelly". It was called "wugan" by the local Eora and Darug inhabitants of the Sydney basin. [cite book|author=Troy, Jakelin|year=1993|title=The Sydney language|publisher=Jakelin Troy| location=Canberra|isbn=0-646-11015-2|pages=p. 53]

Description

At 52 cm (20 in) in length, the adult Australian Raven is an all black bird with black feet and beak and a white iris. The plumage is glossy with a blue-purple to blue-green sheen, greenish over the ear coverts, depending on light. The underparts are not glossy. Its throat feathers (hackles) are longer than those of other species.Higgins "et al.", p. 691] It can be distinguished from the two species of crow occurring in Australia by the grey base of the feathers, which is white in the latter species. Juveniles resemble adults, but have dark eyes, shorter throat hackles, and sometimes have a pink fleshy gape.cite web|url=http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=26|author=Birds in Backyards|title=Australian Raven| accessdate = 2007-08-12]

The territorial call of the Australian Raven is a slow, high "ah-ah-ah-aaaah" with the last note drawn out.cite web|url=http://www.amonline.net.au/factSheets/crows_ravens.htm|author=Australian Museum Online|title=Crows and Ravens| accessdate = 2007-08-12]

Distribution and habitat

The Australian Raven is common throughout eastern, southern Australia and southern Western Australia (the populations being connected by a narrow strip across the Nullarbor Plain) but not found in the far north. It has adapted very well to human habitation in some cities and is a common bird in urban Sydney, and Rottnest Island.

Behaviour

The Australian Raven is known to be very timid flinching at the first sight of humans and usually fly away if looked in the eye for too long (about ten seconds).Fact|date=August 2007 In rural areas a single breeding pair and their brood will occupy about a square kilometre territory, whilst in urban areas over ten times as many ravens can search for food in the same square kilometre.Fact|date=August 2007

Diet

Food consists of carrion, insects, seeds, fruit, small reptiles, nestlings and eggs. The preference ratio is 34% carrion, 42% invertebrates and 24% plant material. Food is taken mainly from the ground but will occasionally feed in trees. Ravens have adapted well to eating rubbish and scraps in urban areas, such as school playgrounds. In one isolated study they were observed feeding on nectar from eucalypt flowers. [cite journal |last= Richardson|first= KC |year= 1988|title= Are Australian corvids nectarivorous?. |journal= Emu |volume=88 |issue= 2|pages=122–123 |id= |url=http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=1855171&q=Corvus+coronoides&uid=1196122&setcookie=yes (abstract) |accessdate= 2007-08-14]

Reproduction

Breeding season is from July to September. Ravens always nest in tall trees, never near to the ground as some species do. Nests are generally large and untidy, consisting of a bowl or platform of sticks lined with grasses, barks, and feathers. [ [http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=26 Birds in Backyards] ] A clutch can comprise 3-6 eggs, though usually 4 or 5 are laid. Measuring 45x30 mm (1¾x1¼ in), eggs are pale green or bluish-green splotched with darker olive, brown and blackish markings.cite book | last = Beruldsen | first = G | title = Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs | publisher = self | date = 2003 | location = Kenmore Hills, Qld | pages = 384 | doi = | id = ISBN 0-646-42798-9] Incubation of the eggs is done solely by the female over roughly 20 days. Only one brood is raised per year. Fledged by 45 days and staying with parents for about four months after that.

Relationship with Humans

The Australian Raven is frequently blamed for the loss of young lambs or kids.cite web|url=http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-C3270146B772814F4A2568B30006FFEE-7A5820241AEA1564CA256BC800078098-7B785784C934E20E4A256DEA00292002-75C7A9C8E202D918CA256BCF000B4D7C?open|author=Temby, Ian|title=Predatory Birds|accessmonthday=12 August|accessyear=2007] Scientific observation in the country's southeast showed that the killing of healthy lambs was rare but that sick animals were predisposed to being attacked. [cite journal |last=Rowley |first=I |year=1969|title=An evaluation of predation by 'crows' on young lambs |journal=CSIRO Wildlife Research |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=153–179 |doi=10.1071/CWR9690153 |url= http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=CWR9690153 (abstract)|accessdate= 2007-08-14|doi_brokendate=2008-06-28]

External links

* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/raven.au An Australian Raven call (two birds)]
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=8302 Australian Raven videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.birdphotos.com.au/australianravenweb/index.htm Australian Raven series] (photos)
* [http://www.aviceda.org/abid/images/data/1064142045.jpgAustralian Raven] (photo)
* [http://www.abc.net.au/storm/nino/img/el74a.jpgA photo of Australian Ravens feeding on carrion]

References

Cited text

*cite book |title= Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 7: Boatbill to Starlings |author= Higgins, Peter Jeffrey, John M. Peter, and S. J. Cowling (eds.) |year= 2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location= Melbourne |isbn= 978-0195539967