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Corvids (Corvidae) are characteristic residents of urban and rural areas. Not everyone knows which native raven species the respective birds are. We introduce you to the 8 native corvids.
In a nutshell
- 8 corvid species are native to Germany
- differ significantly in body size
- many species nest in large numbers in urban areas
- Diet is varied and often opportunistic
- Corvids are among the most intelligent songbirds
8 native raven species
A manageable number of corvids is native to Germany. Above all, the crows and ravens are known, which differ in their characteristics mainly in their size. Ravens, like the common raven, are significantly larger than crows. Even smaller are the other corvids, which at first glance are not reminiscent of the well-known Corvidae because they do not have characteristically dark plumage. As you can already see, the world of native corvids is extremely exciting. We introduce you to the 8 species living in Germany.
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
- Happen: Europe to Japan, southernmost distribution to the Mediterranean Sea and northern China, northernmost distribution to Lapland and northern Russia
- habitat: Meadows, fields, forests, villages, towns and industrial areas
- Coloration Hooded Crow Morphs: gray ground colour, wings, breast, tail, wings and beak black
- Coloration Carrion Crow Morph: pure black, dark eyes, black beak
- length: 45 to 47 cm
- wingspan: 93 to 105 cm
- weight (female): 350 to 660 g
- weight (male): 400 to 750 g
- mating season: March to late June
- breeding place: in tall trees, rock niches, pylons and buildings
- number of eggs: 2 to 6 blue-green eggs, spotted with brown-black
- breeding duration: 20 days
- nestling time: 35 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Carrion, nuts, seeds, bird eggs, insects and other invertebrates, small mammals and waste
- Life expectancy: 15 to 19 years
- call: numerous vocalizations audible, most often a strong "krah"
- particularities: extremely intelligent
- migration: resident bird
Notice: The hooded crow and carrion crow are often referred to as two different native raven species due to their differently colored plumage. Both are carrion crow morphs found in different regions of Germany.
Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
- Happen: High mountains in Eurasia and North Africa, found in Germany exclusively in the Alps
- habitat: alpine scree fields, pastures, mountain forests and settlements
- Look: black ground colour, head feathers shimmer bluish, legs yellow to dark red, yellow bill short and curved, long tail feathers
- length: 34 to 39 cm
- wingspan: 74 to 84 cm
- weight (female): 160 to 270 g
- weight (male): 190 to 290 g
- mating season: May to mid-July
- breeding place: in well-hidden rock niches
- number of blackbird eggs: 4 to 5 white eggs, spotted with brown
- breeding duration: 22 days
- nestling time: 45 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Insects and other invertebrates, berries, bird eggs, carrion and seeds
- Life expectancy: 20 years
- call: bright and less croaky, mostly "griig" or "zijag"
- particularities: Flight speeds of 80 km/h, diving up to 200 km/h, soaring in the air for long periods of time
- migration: resident bird
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
- Happen: Europe to Central Asia and North Africa, in Fennoscandia only in coastal areas
- habitat: Forests, parks, cultural landscapes, urban settlements and cliffs
- Look: Colored completely black-grey to black, bluish tinge, wingtips light gray to white, white eyes, strong bill, slightly curved, tail of medium length, slightly rounded
- length: 33 to 40 cm
- wingspan: 67 to 72 cm
- Weight: 175 to 300 g
- mating season: April to June
- breeding place: in rock holes, old stock, building niches and woody areas
- number of blackbird eggs: 3 to 6 bluish eggs, mottled dark
- breeding duration: 18 to 20 days
- nestling time: 45 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Insects and other invertebrates, seeds, snails, bird eggs, small mammals, carrion and waste
- Life expectancy: 13 to 20 years, in captivity up to 30 years
- call: short and clicking "kja" or "tschack"
- particularities: agile plane, top speeds of up to 60 km/h
- migration: resident bird
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
- Happen: Europe through China to Southeast Asia and Japan, parts of North Africa and the Middle East
- habitat: Forests, city parks, gardens and cities
- Look: plumage red-grey, throat and rump white, head feathers dark brown, black stripe on beard, wings strikingly blue-black patterned, pink legs and feet
- length: 33 to 35 cm
- wingspan: 53 to 59 cm
- Weight: about 170 g
- mating season: April to June
- breeding place: in treetops or shrubs
- number of blackbird eggs: 3 to 5 light green, sandy or light brown eggs, mottled with brown
- breeding duration: 14 days
- nestling time: 20 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Acorns and other nuts, seeds, fruits, berries, insects, bird eggs, rare small mammals
- Life expectancy: 10 to 17 years
- call: loud "dchaa-dchaa"
- particularities: Females usually heavier and larger than males, can imitate the calls of other bird species and all sorts of noises
- migration: Partial migrants in Germany
Magpie (Pica pica)
- Happen: Europe to East Asia, parts of North Africa
- habitat: Cities, villages, parks and open cultural landscapes
- Look: Black ground colour, belly, shoulders, flanks and primaries white, long tail feathers, strong and curved beak
- length: 46 cm
- wingspan: 45 to 53 cm
- weight (female): 180 to 200g
- weight (male): 200 to 270 g
- mating season: March to June
- breeding place: in trees, hedges and bushes
- number of blackbird eggs: 4 to 8 green eggs, spotted with brown
- breeding duration: 21 days
- nestling time: 28 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Insects and other invertebrates, bird eggs, small mammals, carrion, berries, fruit and, more rarely, waste
- Life expectancy: up to 16 years
- call: characteristic chatter ("schäck-schäck-schäck"), slightly croaking
- migration: resident bird
Notice: You don't have to worry about "thieving magpies". This native raven species does not intentionally steal jewelry or other valuables.
Raven (Corvus corax)
- Happen: Europe to East Asia, parts of North Africa, North America to Mexico
- habitat: Forests, mountains, coasts, semi-open and open cultural landscapes, rarely found near people
- Look: completely black plumage with metallic blue-violet or green luster, black feet, strong beak, very large with a distinct ridge, short, wedge-shaped tail
- length: 55 to 70 cm
- wingspan: 115 to 130 cm
- weight (female): 1.07 to 1.24 kg
- weight (male): 1.08 to 1.37 kg
- mating season: January to April
- breeding place: in rock niches, on tall trees, less often on buildings and power poles
- number of blackbird eggs: 3 to 6 light green eggs, spotted green-grey to green-brown
- breeding duration: 21 days
- nestling time: 45 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Omnivore and opportunist, fond of carrion, small vertebrates, birds, bird eggs, less often waste
- Life expectancyAge: 20 to 30 years, 40 years in captivity
- call: loud "kraa" or "rak, rak, rak", extensive vocalizations for communication are available
- particularities: Type of raven with the most pleasant singing voice, appears in numerous sagas, myths and fairy tales
- migration: resident bird
Notice: Common ravens are the largest passerine birds (Passeriformes) alongside the ore ravens (Corvus crassirostris) native to East Africa.
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes)
- Happen: Europe to East Asia
- habitat: Coniferous forests with a high incidence of the following conifers: stone pine (Pinus cembra), spruce (Picea) or hazelnut (Corylus avellana), city parks and gardens are rarely visited
- Look: Dark brown ground colour, spotted white, tail and wingtips black, extremely long bill, shaped like a chisel, light grey
- length: 20 to 32 cm
- wingspan: 50 to 60 cm
- weight (female): 120 to 180 g
- mating season: April to July
- breeding place: in crowns or close to the trunk of conifers
- number of blackbird eggs: 3 to 5 white-green eggs mottled with light brown
- breeding duration: 14 to 21 days
- nestling time: 25 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Conifer seeds and other seeds, hazelnuts, fruits, rare small vertebrates and bird eggs
- Life expectancy: 15 years
- call: hard, often and quickly repeated "krrrrääh", only rarely makes sounds, sometimes imitating jackdaws and magpies
- particularities: can be confused with the starling (Sturnus vulgaris), crack nuts with their beak without any problems
- migration: resident bird
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
- Happen: Europe to southern Japan, Middle East to Egypt, immigrated to New Zealand
- habitat: flat or hilly fields and meadows with forests, clusters of groves or trees, sometimes overwinters in cities
- Look: Completely black ground colour, shiny red, medium-long tail feathers, pointed, slender bill, pointed, bill base bare and dirty white
- length: 46 cm
- wingspan: 98 cm
- Weight: 350 and 550 g
- mating season: March to June
- breeding place: in copses, trees and less often buildings, under bridges or on the ground
- number of blackbird eggs: 3 to 6 grey-greenish eggs, mottled dark
- breeding duration: 18 to 20 days
- nestling time: 30 to 32 days
- breeding frequency: 1 brood per year
- nutrition: Insects and other invertebrates, small mammals, seeds and nuts, berries, fruits and carrion
- Life expectancy: 3 to 20 years
- call: high, exultant "kah", like carrion crows, have extensive vocalizations
- particularities: Flight speeds of 80 km/h, diving up to 200 km/h, soaring in the air for long periods of time
- migration: stationary bird or partial migrant (maximum range of 1,000 km)
frequently asked Questions
Where in Germany can native raven species be found?The two morphs of the carrion crow evolved in different parts of Europe, giving rise to the plumage colourations. The hooded crow with the grey-black morph is native to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and along the Polish and northeastern Czech borders. The all-black carrion crow breeds in the rest of the country. Hybrids are common along the distribution boundaries.
Can you still find the chough in Germany?No, the chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) has not been native to Germany and Austria since the beginning of the 20th century. In the German-speaking area, only a few breeding pairs can be found in Switzerland. Single specimens can be spotted in the German Alps, but they are only temporary visitors and not a native raven species.
Do corvids have predators?Because of their size and intelligence, they are rarely hunted by other animals. Typical predators of the native species include birds of prey, including the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and martens (Mustelidae) are the only mammals in Germany that prey on corvids. Dangerous parasites are feather mites.