Ravens in Lambton County!

Common Ravens are massive birds with shaggy throat feathers and a thick neck and thick beak. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds) They are normally considered to be a Northern bird, but in recent years have been seen more frequently in Southern Ontario.

Common Raven                           American Crow

At a quick glance, Ravens and Crows are similar in appearance. Several features need to be studied. Look at bill size (shown above) and tail shape. In flight, Ravens have a wedged-shaped tail and Crows have a fan-shaped tail. Ravens are about the size of Red-tailed Hawks while Crows are roughly the size of pigeons. If the bird is calling, Crows give a cawing sound while Ravens make a deep croaking sound.

A pair of nesting Ravens was discovered in Eastern Lambton County this spring. It is the first known nesting record of this species in the county. In Ontario, range maps show Ravens as staying north of Georgian Bay.

A platform at the top of a Silo created the base for 3 Ravens to be raised. The female exclusively incubates the eggs during the 3 week incubation period. When the nestlings hatch, they are fed and cared for by both parents. They leave the nest about 5 to 6 weeks after hatching. (Hinterland Who's Who - Canadian Wildlife Federation) These 3 young Ravens will soon be ready to leave the nest!

Common Ravens are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They live in forests of all kinds, shrubland, rocky cliffs on coasts or mountains, the tundra, grassland and even deserts. (Canadian Wildlife Federation) ...And as can be seen by the above picture, Silos can be added to the list!