Ravens are members of the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Older sources list them as members of the genus Carrion, hence “corbies” or “crows”. Among birds they are perhaps most closely related to the rook and jackdaw of Europe (=Corvus frugilegus).
Larger than crows, ravens typically measure 40–64 cm (16–25 inches) in wingspan and weigh 540-880 grams (1.2-2 pounds). Ravens mostly live in lowland valleys at high latitudes or mountainous areas with some timber for roosting and nesting such as fields, meadows and forests beside large bodies of water.
Ravens are very social birds, and live in flocks of six to 30 or more. They eat a wide variety of food such as carrion, insects, eggs and small animals.
They are even known to eat roadkill or other dead animals that they find on highways in the winter.
