Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Little Raven (Corvus mellori)
Little Raven

Little Raven

Corvus mellori

The Little Raven (Corvus mellori), a member of the Corvidae family, is a bird native to southeastern Australia. This species is characterized by its entirely black plumage, beak, and legs. Adult Little Ravens measure approximately 48–50 cm in length and are distinguished by their white irises, a trait shared with some related species from islands north of Australia.

Identification Tips

To identify the Little Raven, look for its smaller stature compared to the Australian Raven, with a slightly smaller beak. Juveniles have blue-grey eyes, which transition to brown and then hazel with blue eyerings as they mature. By around two years of age, the eyes turn a striking white, signaling adulthood.

Habitat

The Little Raven inhabits a variety of environments, including scrublands, agricultural areas, grazing pastures, woodlands, treeless plains, coastal regions, and urban suburbs.

Distribution

This species is found across southeastern Australia, including southern South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Kangaroo Island, and King Island in the Bass Strait. It is notably absent from west Gippsland, dominated by Forest Ravens.

Behaviour

Little Ravens are more sociable than their Australian counterparts, often forming large flocks that roam extensively in search of sustenance.

Breeding

Breeding Little Ravens may nest in loose colonies, with nests constructed a few meters apart. They build a thin cup of sticks lined with bark, grass, and wool, often situated low in trees. Clutches typically consist of four to six eggs, with the young leaving the nest at 33–41 days old.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of Little Ravens leans heavily towards insects, though they are opportunistic omnivores. They forage primarily on the ground, consuming a variety of invertebrates such as spiders, millipedes, centipedes, grasshoppers, cicadas, and caterpillars.

Conservation Status

The Little Raven is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, thanks to its large range, abundance, and stable population.

Similar Species

The Little Raven can be confused with the Australian Raven, but it is distinguishable by its smaller size, more sociable nature, and different vocalizations.

Song & Calls

The Little Raven's call is a harsh "kar-kar-kar-karrr" or "ark-ark-ark-arrk," similar to the Australian and Forest Ravens. It is capable of vocal mimicry, though this is more commonly observed in captivity than in the wild.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Little Ravens on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Crows, Jays

A photo of a California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica)

California Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma californica
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.