 Raven (Corvus corax). Taken on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, on March 5th 2009. Taken on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, on March 5th 2009. (© David Hastings) (1/125th sec at f5. Click image for larger version)  Raven (Corvus corax). Taken at Gilfach Farm, Powys, on May 5th 2018. Taken at Gilfach Farm, Powys, on May 5th 2018. (© David Hastings) (1/1000th sec at f13. Click image for larger version) Description L: 54 - 67 cm; WS: 115 - 130 cm The Raven is a large all-black passerine bird in the crow family. There are eight known subspecies with little variation in appearance. Subspecies tingitanus occurs in North Africa and the Canary Islands. It is the smallest subspecies, with the shortest throat hackles and a distinctly oily plumage gloss. Its bill is short but markedly stout. Over time, its plumage fades to dark brown on the head and body. They are found mainly in the west and north of the British Isles, although they are expanding their range eastwards. Ravens breed on deserted woods, in uplands and on coastal cliffs. Young birds may travel in flocks, but later birds mate for life, with each mated pair defending a territory. There are about 7400 pairs in the UK. Sightings | 06-Oct-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Aug-2025 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 06-May-2025 | : | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs | (1) | | 03-May-2025 | : | Seven Barrows, Berks | (1) | | 10-Apr-2025 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) |
| | 19-Dec-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Sep-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 15-Sep-2024 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 12-Aug-2024 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Jun-2024 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (2) | | 08-May-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 05-May-2024 | : | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs | (1) | | 11-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Mar-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 12-Feb-2024 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (2) | | 15-Jan-2024 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (1) |
| | 07-Oct-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 03-Sep-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Aug-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Jul-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 21-Jun-2023 | : | Haddon Hill, Somerset | (3) | | 29-May-2023 | : | Fineshade Wood, Northants | (h) | | 20-May-2023 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 03-May-2023 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (2) | | 02-May-2023 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (1) | | 07-Apr-2023 | : | Blowingstone Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 26-Mar-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 21-Feb-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (4) | | 19-Feb-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 30-Jan-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Jan-2023 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (1) |
| | 12-Sep-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (3) | | 14-May-2022 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | (1) | | 05-May-2022 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (2) | | 02-May-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 03-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 03-Apr-2022 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (h) | | 26-Mar-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Mar-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) |
| | 26-Jul-2021 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (h) | | 29-Apr-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Apr-2021 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Mar-2021 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | (2) |
| | 15-Sep-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Aug-2020 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (3+) | | 08-Aug-2020 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (4) | | 20-Jul-2020 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (8) | | 23-Apr-2020 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Apr-2020 | : | Abingdon (NE), Oxon | (1) |
| | 21-Jul-2019 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (5) | | 01-Jun-2019 | : | Bucknell Wood, Northants | (1) | | 20-May-2019 | : | Ardivachar, South Uist | (10) | | 19-May-2019 | : | Lochmaddy, North Uist | (2) | | 04-May-2019 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (2) | | 03-May-2019 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (1) | | 01-Apr-2019 | : | Magdalen College, Oxford, Oxon | (2) |
| | 13-Dec-2018 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | | 14-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | | 13-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | | 17-Oct-2018 | : | Abingdon (NE), Oxon | (1) | | 31-Jul-2018 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Jul-2018 | : | Vercors Natural Park, France | | | 22-Jul-2018 | : | Vercors Natural Park, France | | | 07-Jul-2018 | : | Besselsleigh Wood, Oxon | (1) | | 27-May-2018 | : | Bucknell Wood, Northants | (2+) | | 20-May-2018 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (2) | | 05-May-2018 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (1) | | 03-May-2018 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (2) | | 21-Apr-2018 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 14-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 13-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 12-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 11-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | (6) | | 10-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 09-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 30-Jan-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 16-Nov-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 20-Sep-2017 | : | Cheyne Weare, Portland, Dorset | (1) | | 19-Sep-2017 | : | Portland Bill, Dorset | (3) | | 24-Aug-2017 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (2) | | 03-Aug-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 14-Jun-2017 | : | Daneway Banks, Gloucs | (6) | | 10-Jun-2017 | : | Velebits National Park, Croatia | | | 06-Jun-2017 | : | Plitvicka Jezera National Park, Croatia | | | 06-Jun-2017 | : | Irinovac, Croatia | | | 28-May-2017 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (4) |
| | 05-Nov-2016 | : | El Cabrito, Spain | (2) | | 03-Nov-2016 | : | Los Riscos, Spain | (2) | | 30-Jul-2016 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (4) | | 07-Jul-2016 | : | Fermyn Wood, Northants | (6) |
| | 23-Jul-2015 | : | Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria | | | 16-Jun-2015 | : | Heddon Valley, Devon | (4) | | 09-Apr-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Mar-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 29-Nov-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Aug-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Aug-2014 | : | Parsonage Moor, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Aug-2014 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (1) | | 29-Jul-2014 | : | Smardale Gill NNR, Cumbria | (1) | | 28-Jul-2014 | : | Gait Barrows NNR, Lancashire | (1) | | 18-Jun-2014 | : | Topolnica River, Bulgaria | | | 09-May-2014 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (1) | | 08-May-2014 | : | Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire | (1) | | 07-May-2014 | : | Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire | (1) | | 06-May-2014 | : | Martin's Haven, Pembrokeshire | (2) | | 05-May-2014 | : | LLandewi-Brefi, Ceredigion | (2) | | 04-May-2014 | : | Teifi Estuary, Ceredigion | (2) | | 04-May-2014 | : | Mwnt, Ceredigion | (2) |
| | 10-Aug-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 25-May-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Apr-2013 | : | Gorges de la Nesque, France | (2) | | 22-Apr-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 29-May-2012 | : | Compton Chine, Isle of Wight | (2) | | 26-May-2012 | : | Lardon Chase, Berks | (1) |
| | 30-Apr-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 05-Mar-2009 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | | | 28-Feb-2009 | : | Tenerife, Canary Islands | |
| | 06-May-2007 | : | Mt Brunca Spina, Sardinia | | | 01-May-2007 | : | Monte Arcuso, Sardinia | |
| | 18-May-2005 | : | Castro Verde, Portugal | |
| | 17-Jun-2003 | : | St Martin, Isles of Scilly | |
| | 23-Oct-2002 | : | Catalina Island, California | |
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