Australian Raven

1. Long, lance-shaped throat hackles ("beard") visible when calling

2. Pure white eyes in adults; brown to blue-grey in juveniles

3. Drawn-out, descending wailing call

Australian Ravens are omnivorous, with a diet that includes insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, carrion, seeds, fruit, and human food scraps. They are ground foragers, often seen walking as they search for food, and are known for their problem-solving abilities and innovative foraging strategies, such as dunking dry food in water or using objects as tools. Ravens are highly intelligent, capable of recognizing individual humans and employing deception to protect food caches. Breeding usually occurs from July to October, with large stick nests built high in trees or on artificial structures. The female incubates 4–6 eggs, and both parents feed the chicks, which remain dependent for several months. Cooperative breeding is sometimes observed, with older siblings helping to raise new broods`.`

Australian Ravens are found throughout most of eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, and southeastern South Australia, as well as in the southwest of Western Australia. They inhabit a wide range of environments, including eucalypt forests, woodlands, farmland, heath, mangroves, and urban areas. In cities like Sydney and Perth, they are the default large black corvid, often seen in parks, gardens, and suburban streets. They are less common in regions dominated by other corvid species, such as the Torresian Crow in Brisbane and the Little Raven in Melbourne and Adelaide. Australian Ravens are year-round residents, with pairs holding territories and non-breeding birds forming flocks that may travel widely in search of food.

The Australian Raven holds a significant place in Aboriginal mythology and culture, often seen as a trickster or ancestral being. In the Kulin nation of central Victoria, the raven (Waa) is one of two moiety ancestors, and among the Noongar people of southwestern Australia, it is known as Waardar, "the Watcher". Otherwise, the species is respected and known for its intelligence.