raven

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Article title: raven, common. Scientific name: Corvus corax; animal; bird

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raven

bird

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 11, 2024 • Article History

Related Topics:: common raven; crow; Raven cycle

On the Web:: BMC - BMC Ecology and Evolution - Brains, tools, innovation and biogeography in crows and ravens (Dec. 11, 2024)

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raven, any of approximately 10 species of heavy-billed dark birds, larger than crows. Closely related, both ravens and crows are species of the genus Corvus. The raven has a heavier bill and shaggier plumage than the crow, especially around the throat. The raven’s lustrous feathers also have a blue or purplish iridescence. The common raven (C. corax) is the largest of the perching birds: it reaches a length of up to 66 cm (26 inches) and has a wingspan of more than 1.3 metres (4 feet). (Some magpies and the lyrebird exceed the raven in length, but their bodies are ...(100 of 443 words)

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