Ravens may conjure images of gloomy omens, but they’re also the stars of ten incredible facts that will surprise you. Below we explore each quirky, brainy, and downright mysterious trait that makes these black‑feathered birds unforgettable.
Incredible Facts About Ravens
10 They Are Crazy Smart
Everyone knows corvids are clever, but recent research shows just how human‑like their intelligence can be. A 2002 study in Science revealed that a New Caledonian crow could bend a piece of wire into a hook to pull food out of a narrow tube—something young children struggled to replicate.
Researchers at a Moscow university took the challenge further, teaching crows to match flash‑card pairs. The birds mastered analogical reasoning, earning mealworms for correct matches, a cognitive step well beyond basic training.
Ravens themselves have been spotted sliding on snow using makeshift sleds crafted from bark, and they’re constantly tinkering with human‑made objects they find. Their creativity and adaptability keep debunking the old “bird‑brained” stereotype.
9 They Have A Special Friendship With Wolves
When wolves drop a moose carcass, ravens are on the scene within a minute. A pair of wolves can lose almost 40 % of the moose to the birds, while a pack of six wolves sees the loss shrink to about 17 %.
For the ravens, following wolves is a brilliant scavenging strategy. One raven can harvest roughly 1.8 kg (4 lb) from a 450‑kg (1,000‑lb) moose in a single day, and a chorus of ravens can strip a carcass clean.
Ravens also guide wolves to hidden carcasses they can’t crack open themselves, and they keep a watchful ear for danger while the wolves are busy feasting.
8 They Can Talk
Ravens aren’t just random “kraas”—their vocal repertoire conveys emotions like tenderness, happiness, anger, and surprise. They use clucks that sound like hens to warn each other of danger, and a distinct “haaa” when meat is on the menu.Groups develop their own dialects, and in captivity ravens can out‑talk many parrots. Beyond human speech, they mimic wolves (useful for luring the pack to a carcass), other birds, garbage trucks, and even toilet flushing.
7 They Are Often Seen As Omens
Dark plumage and a habit of hovering over corpses have made ravens legendary omens across cultures. Celtic myth saw them as battle heralds, while the Irish believed a war goddess summoned them to feast on fallen warriors.
In Hindu belief, ravens carry the souls of the deceased, offering either good or bad luck. German folklore ties them to the souls of the damned, Arabs call them “Abu Zajir” (Father of Omens), and Swedish tales describe them as ghosts of murdered victims who never received proper burials.
6 They Enjoy Getting Stoned
Ravens indulge in a quirky behavior called “anting,” where they crush ants and rub the resulting formic‑acid‑laden mush onto their feathers. The acid is absorbed into their skin, and the birds seem to love the sensation.
Scientists aren’t sure why they do it. Some suggest it’s a form of prey preparation that makes them immune to the acid, allowing them to eat ants safely. Others think it’s a learned habit or simply a soothing bath oil.
Whatever the reason, ravens covered in squashed ants appear blissfully content, as if they’re on a natural high.
5 They’re Empathetic
A 2010 PLOS One study observed 13 hand‑reared ravens over two years, documenting 152 fights. Researchers categorized participants as aggressors, victims, or bystanders.
Ravens that spent the most time with victims were the most likely to console them—offering beak‑to‑body touches, sitting nearby, and preening. Even bystanders showed awareness of a victim’s distress.
This behavior indicates true empathy: the birds must recognize the emotional state of another and adjust their actions accordingly.
4 They’re Secretly Pirates
At Lund University, researchers trained ravens to use a specific tool to open a box for a treat. After the box was removed, the birds returned an hour later to a selection of objects. Eighty percent chose the correct tool after a 15‑minute delay, and 90 % succeeded after a 17‑hour delay.
The same lab showed ravens can barter with tokens and remember when a researcher cheats them. In a fairness test, six of seven birds repeatedly chose the trustworthy researcher over a cheating one, even a month later.
If these feathered swashbucklers ever needed to walk a plank, the cheating researcher would be the first to feel the splash.
3 Ravens Protect The Tower Of London
Legend says the presence of ravens at the Tower of London wards off disaster; should they ever leave, the tower and the monarchy would fall.
One story credits Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote that King Bran Hen (“raven” in Welsh) asked to be buried at the tower to serve as a talisman against invasion. Since then, the birds have remained.
In 1661, Charles II formally ordered that six ravens be kept at the tower at all times, and the tradition continues to this day.
2 They Are Tricksters
Many Native American tribes view the raven as a trickster and even a shapeshifter. The Sioux tell of a white raven that warned buffalo of nearby hunters, causing a stampede. A shaman, annoyed, tossed the raven into fire, turning its feathers black.
Modern science backs up the trickster reputation. A University of Vermont study found juvenile ravens create a ruckus while feeding on a carcass to attract peers, boosting safety against adult scavengers. They also pretend to hide food in one spot before stealthily moving it elsewhere to confound rivals.
1 They Recognize And Remember Your Face
Wildlife biologist John M. Marzluff tested ravens’ memory on the University of Washington campus. Researchers wore “dangerous” masks (scary) and neutral masks while walking around. The birds dive‑bombed the dangerous masks but ignored the neutral ones.
The reaction wasn’t a one‑off; the crows communicated the threat to their peers. When Marzluff later strolled by in a dangerous mask, 47 of the 53 crows he encountered swooped down.
Unlike Aesop’s fable where the crow falls for flattery, real ravens hold grudges, remember faces, and can rally a whole flock against a perceived foe.