Buzz
Ravens have long been tied to themes of darkness, omens, and death. Even before Poe made ravens iconic in the horror genre, they appeared in the Old Testament, symbolizing the devastation of Edom.
Amid the smoldering aftermath of destruction, only ravens were allowed to pass through. They were perfectly at home there, which didn’t help improve their reputation.
Aside from their role as symbols of death and their connection to eerie Halloween settings, ravens are remarkably intelligent, resourceful, and captivating creatures.
10. They Are Incredibly Intelligent
Ravens have always been recognized for their smarts, but we’re just scratching the surface of how clever these scavengers truly are. Ravens now have a reputation for possessing ‘humanlike’ intelligence, a remarkable discovery. Part of the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, magpies, jays, and jackdaws, ravens belong to a group of birds known for their exceptional cognitive abilities.
A 2002 study published in Science showed that a New Caledonian crow could shape a piece of wire into a hook to retrieve food from a narrow space. When young children were given the same task, they couldn't replicate the bird's mental agility.
In a study conducted by researchers from a Moscow university's biology department, crows demonstrated their ability for analogical reasoning after completing a flashcard matching game. Correct matches earned the crows mealworms, and this process of matching things is considered advanced reasoning, which the birds could do without much training.
Ravens have been spotted sliding down snowy slopes using bark sleds and exploring human-made objects they encounter. These inventive, adaptable birds are proving that calling someone 'birdbrained' is a real insult to their intelligence.
9. They Share A Unique Bond With Wolves
While wolves are perfectly capable of hunting on their own, their feathered companions make it more efficient. In a recent study, it was found that within a minute of wolves bringing down a moose, ravens were already swooping in. It’s estimated that a pair of wolves will lose nearly 40 percent of that moose to ravens. With six wolves, however, ravens only take about 17 percent.
Although ravens and wolves may seem like an unusual pair, their relationship is mutually beneficial, even if it appears wolves are getting the raw deal here.
For ravens, it makes perfect sense to follow wolves and scavenge the leftovers from their kills. One raven can feast on 1.8 kilograms (4 lbs) from a 450-kilogram (1,000 lbs) moose in a single day. Imagine how much several ravens could scavenge. Scientists think this is exactly why wolves hunt in packs.
To balance out the deal, ravens lead wolves to carcasses they can’t feed on because their beaks aren’t strong enough to break into the bodies. While wolves are distracted with their kill, ravens also act as lookouts, warning them of any suspicious sounds or potential threats.
8. They Have the Ability to Speak
Ravens may seem to simply make random “kraas,” but their varied vocalizations are believed to carry meaning. In the wild, ravens use a wide range of sounds to communicate with one another. They can convey emotions such as affection, joy, anger, and astonishment.
Ravens can also warn each other of danger by clucking like hens, and when preparing for a confrontation, they make trill sounds. They have a distinctive “haaa” sound they use when referring to meat. Within their social groups, ravens even have their own dialects.
When kept in captivity, ravens can learn to mimic human speech even better than some parrots. But that’s not all—ravens can imitate wolves (useful for attracting them to carcasses that the ravens can't open themselves), other birds, garbage trucks, and even toilet flushing sounds.
7. They Are Often Interpreted as Omens
Whether it's their pitch-black feathers or their tendency to linger over corpses, ravens have long been entwined with myth and superstition throughout history.
In Celtic myth, ravens were considered omens of battle and violence. The Irish believed the war goddess summoned ravens from the sky to feast on the bodies of the fallen. This belief was grounded in the raven's true role as a scavenger.
Hindus view ravens as the spirits of the departed, symbolizing either good or bad fortune. In Germany, ravens are thought to carry the souls of the damned. Arabs refer to the raven as “Abu Zajir” (“Father of Omens”). According to Swedish folklore, ravens are believed to be the spirits of those who were murdered and denied proper burial rites.
6. They Have a Tendency to Get High
This doesn't involve chilling with some weed and a drink—definitely not their vibe. What ravens actually indulge in is something pretty bizarre: they engage in a behavior known as anting. This involves crushing ants and rubbing them all over their feathers. When ants are squashed, they release formic acid, which is absorbed by the ravens’ skin and seems to feel incredibly satisfying to them.
So why do they do it?
The exact reason remains a mystery, but there are plenty of theories. One suggestion is that anting could be a method of prey preparation, making the ravens immune to the formic acid so they can safely eat ants without harm.
Some believe anting is a behavior learned over time. Others argue it’s purely instinctual, as if the birds just can't resist. Perhaps the formic acid acts like a bizarre skin oil, giving them a soothing effect.
Birds that indulge in anting seem to be completely in a state of euphoria, as if they’re floating in the clouds. Maybe it’s really as simple as that. As humans, we often complicate things. It could just be that ravens and other birds, like the crow above, cover themselves in crushed ants simply because it feels amazing.
5. They Show Empathy
Although a group of ravens is known as an 'unkindness,' these birds are actually quite empathic. A study published in PLOS One in 2010 revealed that ravens comfort victims of aggressive behavior.
For two years, Orlaith Fraser and Thomas Bugnyar monitored the actions of 13 hand-raised ravens. Over that period, they witnessed 152 altercations. They classified the ravens into three roles: aggressors, victims, and bystanders, based on their involvement in the conflict.
Ravens that spent the most time with the distressed birds were most likely to engage in comforting behaviors, such as beak-to-body contact, sitting beside the victim, and grooming them. Although they were less involved, bystanders still recognized the victim's distress.
Before, we didn’t give ravens enough credit for the higher-level cognitive functions linked to empathy. For them to demonstrate empathy, they must first understand the situation and adjust their actions to respond to the victim’s needs accordingly.
4. They’re Stealthy Pirates
Although they might not be raiding ships across the seven seas, ravens do possess certain skills that any pirate would appreciate. Among these abilities are negotiation tactics and foresight.
An experiment conducted by Can Kabadayi and Mathias Osvath at Lund University in Sweden demonstrated that ravens have the cognitive ability to plan ahead and negotiate for their desires. Kabadayi and Osvath trained a group of ravens to use a special tool on a box to access a treat. After removing the box, they returned an hour later with a new set of items for the ravens to select from.
One of the objects provided was the tool needed to open the box. In 80% of the trials, the ravens selected the tool and successfully completed the task to retrieve the treat when the box was returned to them 15 minutes later. The experiment was repeated after a 17-hour gap, and this time, the ravens succeeded 90% of the time. The birds even used tokens to negotiate for food.
Another ability that sets ravens apart from parrots as better companions for pirates is their strong intolerance for cheaters. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden ran an experiment where they traded with ravens and then deceived them to see if they would remember the dishonesty.
And remember, they did.
In the first phase, a researcher gave the raven a piece of bread, which it could trade for a more desirable piece of cheese with a second researcher. In the next phase, the raven presented the bread to the second researcher for a trade, but instead of handing over the cheese, the researcher ate it right in front of the raven.
A couple of days later, the experiment was repeated with a neutral third researcher whom the ravens hadn't worked with before. Out of seven birds, six chose to trade with the researcher they deemed ‘fair’ (the one who didn’t eat the cheese), while one raven chose the ‘neutral’ researcher. A month later, only one bird still chose the ‘unfair’ researcher, while the rest refused to trust him.
If ravens had the power to make someone walk the plank, the ‘unfair’ researcher would definitely be the first to be sent overboard.
3. They Recognize And Remember Your Face
The next time you think about shooing ravens away from your yard, you might want to reconsider. Ravens, crows, and other members of the corvid family are not ones to forgive or forget easily. Wildlife biologist John M. Marzluff tested this notion at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Seven crows were tagged and released on campus by researchers wearing different masks. To provoke the birds, they wore either dangerous (scary) or neutral masks. As expected, the crows showed their disapproval of the “dangerous” masks by swooping and dive-bombing those wearing them.
It's important to note that the researchers weren’t trying to provoke the birds, they were simply moving around campus. Yet, the crows were not pleased with the scary masks, while those wearing neutral ones were left completely undisturbed.
Over time, the crows began spreading the word to their fellow birds, who then passed it along. At one point, while Dr. Marzluff was walking around in his “dangerous” mask, 47 out of the 53 crows he encountered were ready for a confrontation.
Aesop got it all wrong. In his fable, “The Fox and the Crow,” the unsuspecting crow falls into the fox’s trap, dropping his food so the fox can steal it. The fox leaves with some sarcastic remarks about the crow’s intelligence.
Had this been real life, things would have played out very differently. The fox wouldn't have walked away with the meal. The crow would have held a grudge, dive-bombed the fox, and likely stolen his next meal with the help of a very angry crow posse.
2. They Are Tricksters
Ravens' cunning nature has been a key feature in many myths and stories. Several Native American tribes considered the raven a trickster and even a shape-shifter.
The raven's boldness made it easy to spot by anyone. The Sioux told of a white raven who would alert the buffalo to approaching hunters, causing them to stampede. In one version of the tale, an annoyed shaman grew tired of the raven and tossed it into the fire, which turned its feathers black.
As scientists focus more on ravens, they’ve witnessed behavior that supports their trickster reputation. A study from the University of Vermont showed that young ravens will create a scene while feeding on a carcass to attract other young ravens. This ensures their protection from adult crows and other scavengers. Ravens have also been seen pretending to stash food in one spot before quietly hiding it elsewhere to deceive other ravens.
1. Ravens Guard The Tower Of London
The origin of the rumor is unclear, but it is said that ravens at the Tower of London bring protection from bad luck. If the ravens ever leave, it is believed that the tower and the monarchy would fall.
One explanation traces back to author Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote about King Bran Hen of Bryneich. Bran, which translates to “raven” in Welsh, asked for his head to be buried at the tower to serve as a protective charm against invaders. Ravens have inhabited the tower ever since. In 1661, King Charles II decreed that six ravens must always be present at the tower, a tradition that continues to this day.
