Learn 100 Common Valley Birds Blog Post Species #69/100

Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing them by name only adds to our pleasure. In California’s Central Valley, with only a little bit of effort, anyone can learn 100 local bird species. Especially since on a daily basis Valley Residents come in contact with at least a dozen species that most recognize, but may not know the name of. The intent of this blog is for followers to learn about and be able to identify 100 common valley birds.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Common Raven – Corvus corax
Name Roots: (Latin. corvus, “a crow” – Greek. korax, “raven”; krazo, “to croak”)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Common Raven is a large, glossy-black bird with a wedge-shaped tail. It is larger than a crow with a longer and thicker bill. It is distinctive in flight with rather long, swept-back wings and a long tail. Note its smoother, steadier wingbeats compared with the faster, choppier wingbeats of crows.

AN INTERESTING OR UNUSUAL FACT

One fascinating fact about the Common Raven is that they are believed to mate for life1. This means that once they find a partner, they stay together until one of them dies. They raise only one brood a year, which includes between three and seven young1. This monogamous behavior is quite unusual and interesting in the bird world.

DISTRIBUTION STATUS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

This large, black, majestic bird is geographically and ecologically one of the most widespread naturally occurring birds in the world. It is distributed throughout major portions of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and in all terrestrial biomes except tropical rain forests. The Common Raven is a Common Yearround Resident in California’s Central Valley and can be seen flying over any habitat, but is more frequently encountered closer to the foothills on each side of the valley.

eBird Bar Charts & Map Grid

Previous Learn 100 Common Valley Birds Posts

• Northern Pintail
• Say’s Phoebe
• Cinnamon Teal
• Phainopepla
• Sandhill Crane