Ravens are found worldwide and often confused with crows. Though they both belong to the corvid family, the tell is in the tail. The raven’s tail is wedge shaped, whereas the crow’s tail is fan shaped. Or maybe it’s the other way around. An easier tell is that ravens soar and crows flap. Ravens are larger than crows and are usually seen in pairs or small groups while crows appear in large flocks. Ravens have a deep throaty caw and also chortle, croak and can even imitate the sounds of other birds, animals and machines. It is said they can mimic human speech. I think I might have heard them whispering at me, especially when I’m alone. I know I’ve been followed by someone making mysterious clicking noises while hiking. Crows, on the other hand, just caw. Both ravens and crows are highly intelligent but I think the raven is a bit more so. Maybe because it’s not hanging with the crowd all the time. 

Sometimes known as tricksters, I can vouch for their sense of humor. One day, as my husband and I ambled along a forest trail, an injured raven appeared hopping before us, pitifully dragging one wing. Our first thought was to capture it and nurse it back to health. My husband slowly approached it as one would an injured animal. It moved off the trail and hopped a little faster. My husband, eyes on the bird, followed. It hopped off through the brambles rather quickly, pitifully dragging its injured wing behind. My husband moved a little faster. Eyes fastened on his quarry, he failed to see the stump in front of him that the raven had hopped over. As he tripped over the stump and plunged headfirst into a straggly bush, the “injured” raven suddenly took flight into a nearby pine tree. There several other ravens joined it in raucous laughter. We didn’t think it was so funny but apparently they enjoyed the trick. Since then, we’ve traveled that same path and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the sound of laughing ravens following us through the trees. That’s because ravens are noted for remembering human faces. Not only do they remember your face; they remember your behavior. When my son was in the army, stationed in Iraq, he spent some time living on the rooftop of an abandoned building. Unfortunately, there were some ravens already in occupancy and they did not take kindly to this invasion of their turf. The ravens would fly over them and drop rocks and shards of broken glass on their heads. This continued until the humans moved their camp elsewhere. 

There is much to admire about this amazing bird. Ravens are the largest member of the Corvidae family which includes ravens, crows, jays, magpies and rooks. They are considered the most intelligent birds and have been observed employing problem-solving skills sometimes surpassing that of chimpanzees. They are adaptable and can be found all over the northern hemisphere from forests to deserts. They are capable of aerial acrobatics on par with birds of prey. They eat practically anything -- fruits, nuts, seeds, fish, carrion, small animals, food remains and even garbage. They mate for life and both parents care for their young -- usually a brood of three to seven -- in large nests built of sticks. They show empathy to one another. Their calls can express tenderness, happiness, surprise or anger. They employ other animals for help. They have been observed to call foxes and wolves to open the carcass of an animal whose skin is too tough for them to break open. They have also been employed by humans. In Amsterdam, they are being trained to pick up human garbage and deposit it in a receptacle to earn peanuts. They have long memories. They are adaptable and long lived. And they are mischievous. What’s not to love about the RAVEN? So, when you’re out and about and come across this sleek majestic bird, take a moment to admire and listen to it. Just don’t chase it. Even if it appears injured.