Australian Raven

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

Measuring 46–53 cm in length with a wingspan up to 115 cm, this large, robust bird is entirely black with a glossy purple-blue or greenish sheen on its upperparts. A crucial field mark is the prominent, elongated throat hackles forming a shaggy beard on the breast of mature individuals. The concealed bases of its body feathers are grey. Eye colour reveals the bird's age: adults possess striking white irises, juveniles have dark brown eyes, and immature birds display hazel eyes with a distinct blue inner rim. Vocalisations are the most reliable identification tool in the field. The signature call is a loud, high, and harsh series of notes ending in a distinctly drawn-out, descending, and sorrowful wail. Highly opportunistic, this territorial bird is frequently observed striding confidently while ground-foraging. The diverse diet encompasses insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and urban scraps. In agricultural areas, it acts as a vital environmental cleaner by scavenging carrion and sheep afterbirth. Pairs typically bond for life, constructing large, bowl-shaped stick nests high in trees or on tall artificial structures like windmills. Endemic to southern, eastern, and southwestern Australia, it is notably absent from the far tropical north. It thrives in varied environments from open sclerophyll woodlands, mallee, and arid shrublands to farming tracts. Highly adaptable, it is a familiar sight in major urban centres including Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane. Colloquially referred to as a "crow", it is separated from the Torresian Crow and Little Crow by its grey, rather than white, feather bases and much longer throat hackles. While physically similar to the Little Raven and Forest Raven, its exceptionally long hackles and uniquely drawn-out, wailing final call easily set it apart.

Description · BirdUp · CC BY-SA 4.0

1. 01

   Prominent, shaggy throat hackles

   Elongated feathers on the throat form a conspicuous 'beard', often appearing flared or windswept.

2. 02

   Stark white iris (adults)

   Mature birds possess a striking, clean white eye that contrasts sharply with the all-black plumage. Juveniles and immatures have darker eyes.

3. 03

   Grey feather bases

   Feathers on the neck and body have grey bases, often visible when ruffled by wind, stretching, or vocalizing.

4. 04

   Deeply fingered wingtips

   Broad wings end in prominent, widely separated primary feathers, creating a distinct 'fingered' appearance, especially noticeable in flight.