Common Raven
From Ohio History Central
Contents
Facts
| Scientific Name: | Corvus corax |
| Habitat: | Boreal and mountain forests, coastal cliffs, and tundra |
| Adult Weight: | 2.5 - 3 lbs. |
| Adult Body Length: | 22 - 27 inches |
| Broods Per Year: | 1 |
| Clutch Size: | 3-7 eggs |
| Foods: | Carrion, reptiles and amphibians, eggs, insects, and plants |
Notes
The raven looks very similar to the crow, but it is larger with a wedge-shaped tail instead of a squared- off tail.
History
Pre-Settlement
The raven was the most numerous of all the birds in the corvidae family (crows, jays and magpies) found in early Ohio.
Settlement
Ravens were common around Lake Erie and, it is expected, ranged into central and southern Ohio. As soon as settlers began to arrive and remove the large growth forests, ravens began to leave the state.
19th Century
As the forest quickly disappeared, so did the ravens. In northern counties, the raven population declined between the 1850s and 1870s. The last raven in central Ohio was collected in 1879.
20th Century
The common raven was extirpated from Ohio by 1905.
See Also
References
- Hulbert, Archer B., and Schwarze, William N., eds. David Zeisberger's History of the North American Indians. Columbus, OH: Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1910.
- Peterjohn, John. The Birds of Ohio; Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN; 1989.