What does the Common Raven song sound like?
Corvus corax
Song Common
Play the real Common Raven song, the "crrruk", and learn what to listen for.
“crrruk”
What the Common Raven song sounds like
A deep, resonant croaking sound that carries long distances. Much deeper and more guttural than a crow's caw.
“crrruk”
Birders often file this one under Croak.
How to find the bird singing it
Extremely adaptable, found in coniferous and deciduous forests, beaches, mountains, desert, grasslands, agricultural fields, tundra, and around human settlements.
- Massive Size: Much larger than crows, with a wingspan of up to 4.5 feet.
- Wedge-shaped Tail: In flight, the tail has a distinctive diamond or wedge shape, unlike the more squared tail of crows.
- Shaggy Throat: Throat feathers appear shaggy or beard-like, especially when calling.
When you'll hear it
Spring
Breeding season; pairs perform aerial displays and defend territories.
Summer
Parents care for young; family groups may be seen together.
Fall
Young disperse; birds may gather in larger numbers at food sources.
Winter
May form loose aggregations at food sources; continue territorial behavior in pairs.
Don’t confuse it with
Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.
Common Raven song FAQ
What does a Common Raven song sound like?
A deep, resonant croaking sound that carries long distances. Much deeper and more guttural than a crow's caw. Birders write it as "crrruk".
How do I tell a Common Raven from a American Crow by ear?
American Crow: Smaller size with fan-shaped tail; Higher-pitched caw rather than deep croak.
When is the best time to hear the Common Raven song?
Active year-round during daylight hours, often seen alone or in pairs that stay together year-round.
More Common Raven sounds
Common Raven: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?