Australian raven calling (Corvus coronoides)

NSW, Australia - October 29, 2017

[sinnisyt]

0:57 - 1:05

Even the Raven says "Wow" to his performance.

[openmodalguitar]

All three Australian raven species are hyper-intelligent and the closer you observe them the more this becomes apparent (the three species overlap in southern Victoria). For instance they post sentries at strategic look out points like the tallest trees and poles and relieve shifts. This allows them to gather or disperse in response to food sources or danger. Their voice carries over a long range and they have a wide vocabulary so they are able to communicate with each other over a large territory.

They do a great service by cleaning up carrion, reducing the numbers of maggots and therefore flies.
They also eat a lot of insects and larvae - if it wasn't for ravens, magpies and ibis Australia would be absolutely infested with bugs.

People seem to regard their calls as harsh and grating, but listen closely and there is a lot of nuance in their vocalizations. I have heard large groups chanting like monks, where one bird would emit a phrase and the rest would repeat it, each succesive phrase was different and the group response was always an echo of it. It sounds very solemn, like a religious service.

Ravens are very aware of human activity and the opportunities they can exploit, from plowing a paddock to school lunch times. When coronavirus lockdowns threw out some of their food source routines there were mass gatherings to discuss new strategies. I mentioned this to friends who said they had noticed this too.

Corellas are the rivals of ravens in developed areas. There is a periodic gathering of both these species where thousands of each of these birds will take to the skies all at once. They don't seem to fight, rather it appears to be a show of strength. I saw this in the skies over Cranbourne, Victoria and was told it was a regular, probably yearly event.

Ravens and magpies have some rivalry over specific patches but generally get along fine, and some individuals of each species seem to like hanging out together. They will always cooperate to harrass wedge tailed eagles and hawks away from their territory. I once saw a kookaburra flush out a large harrier hawk from a tree, then a magpie took up the chase and a raven then stayed on its tail until it was long gone.

One of the best things about watching ravens is their awesome flight skills, they are capable of extremely dexterous maneuvers even in strong winds that have other birds sheltering. This gives them the advantage of finding food blown about and having the territory to themselves to pick over.

It is well worth the effort to observe these birds closely - after all they are keeping a close eye on you.

[totes_an_alien]

I love how it makes that little sound after it goes aaah aaaaeeeeh those two times, so cute! 🥺

Also I once saw a group of these working with an ibis to get into a dumpster bin, they managed to open the lid and were making a mess lmao.

[KanalFrump]

There's so much intent and intelligence evident in that call. What a beautiful creature.

[OrbitoonsKids]

Ravens are such beautiful and intelligent birds! :D I love them!

[davidseclecticmadness]

The little low duck-like grunts at the end of each series of calls is the icing on the cake. Adorable.

[eschwarz]

cool; sounds like so many things at different times. Calf, cat groan, lamb, baby- Ravens are great

[deborahdzovor]

I first heard of this bird call in Australia, I initially thought they were some kids crying out loud all the time 😂

I was amazed to find out they’re actually ravens. They can be as loud as hell, but still cute tho😅

[aperson-dm]

this is just adorable, i cant handle the cuteness of crows
and ravens

[svart-galla]

Sounds like a strange cat 😺, but it's cute

[ToToWildlife]

Beautiful bird, intense and beautiful eyes 👍

[hoorootv]

Ravens a plenty where I live ( not far from thick bushland). Also I hear Kookaburras, Cockatoos, Magpies & Bellbirds.

[Jardinier]

There are many beautiful bird calls in the forests of Australia but I love the ravens call the most. When they do the full four uhhhs! then the final it sounds like a tragic story they are telling! lovely

[guardian]

Omg I've been calling ravens, crows my whole life

[MIck-M]

I live in a lonely sun baked place. When I first got here, I was really feeling the desolation of it and this call was echoing through the scrub making the whole feeling ten times worse. I thought, 'Geez, even the birds don't really wanna be here'. I like them now but their calls always remind me of someone woefully crying out in a harsh wilderness.

[WingedExp]

It sounds like the bird is trying to say something but all that comes out is uhh uuhh uuhhhh

[srvntlilly]

I don't know why, that is just so cute to me, lol!😂 Such beautiful feathers!

[seethrough_treeshrew]

Australia really has all the weird ass animals, don't they?

[cuchulainnmaclugh]

Everywhere I live I befriend the crows and Ravens that live near, I have a nest of them in the trees behind my house and in the morning I usually call back and forth with them

[Nike_IV]

I’ve been calling the birds at my school crows for 3 years
They’re ravens.
I literally just realised they were ravens.
My life is a lie