Little Raven (Corvus mellori) is so similar to the Australian Raven in appearance that for many years the former was not recognized as a separate species. The two live side-by-side in the open woodlands of southeastern Australia. Here, the range of both species is almost completely overlapped. Competition between them, however, is largely avoided because of differences in their way of life and behavior.
The Little Raven is nomadic, social, and flock-oriented. While adult Australian Ravens hold permanent territory exclusively in pairs in the most productive habitat, Little Ravens shift about to forage over marginal habitats as well. They congregate to exploit sudden food flushes. In well-watered agricultural areas, movements are usually small, and breeding adults are almost sedentary. But in inland New South Wales, flocks of up to several hundred subadults and non-breeders travel southeast in summer to better-watered foothills and mountains. Some birds travel more than 400 kilometers, flying high in cohesive groups in consistent directions. Snowy Mountain birds move differently.
As summer draws to a close, they desert the alpine region for fringing forests and woodlands, where they rely on stick insects. They then move to adjacent plains. The Little Raven is slightly smaller than the Australian Raven. The Little Ravens are as omnivorous as the Australian Raven and eat carrion.
However, their slender bills make it virtually impossible to kill dying lambs. Instead, they eat very large quantities of insects gleaned from the foliage and branches of trees as well as from the ground. Insects account for 60 percent of their diet, compared with 15 percent carrion and 25 percent plant matter; much of the grain spills in stubble at harvest time. Breeding habits also differ from Australian Ravens.
The little ravens nest in groups in tightly clustered territories and feed far beyond their boundaries. Several pairs may even nest in one tree, although most territories, held only during breeding, are about two to three hectares. Often the territories overlap those of Australian Ravens, but the two do not compete even there because the Little usually forages well away and builds in smaller trees.
Little Ravens advertise their territories with short cawing’s and shuffle their wings above their backs while doing so. Courtship is a strutting promenade. Often nesting a month later than the Australian Raven, Little Ravens are more adaptable to timing their breeding. Inland, they generally arrive in August and September. However, in alpine regions, their feeding grounds are still under snow, and they seldom begin laying before late September and may continue into December.
Size: The little Raven measures between 480-500 mm long.
Identification: Both sexes are alike. Plumage is completely black, with a green and purple gloss; the underparts are dusky grey. Throat hackles are indistinct. Eyes have a white, blue inner ring. The bill and feet are black. The immature bird is sooty ventrally; its underparts are whitish-grey. The eyes are brown.
Vocalizations: When in contact or advertising, little ravens call guttural bars, kar-kar-kar-kar, or ark-ark-ark.
Nest and Breed: Nesting and breeding occur in August–September or May; in alpine regions, in September–December. Nest is a substantial stick basket lined with bark, wool, and sometimes Emu feathers. It is placed at the junction of three stems in a tree or, in treeless areas, on telegraph poles and bushes.
Eggs and Incubation: The Little Raven lays four or five eggs: pale green, boldly marked with dark and olive-brown blotches and spots; oblong-oval, about 44 x 30 mm. The incubation period is about 19–20 days for females. Young fledge in 35–41 days.
Distribution: Little Raven is found in the woodlands and fields of the southeastern mainland, as well as King Island. No races.
Read More: Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus)
