Ravens are among the birds of prey. They are said to have devious, thieving and mean characteristics. Only a few of the 42 raven species live in Germany. That’s how old ravens get in this country.
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Rabenvögel
The Corvidae family consists mainly of ravens and crows. The “classic” and world-famous creatures can be recognized visually by their black plumage, which has a greenish to bluish-metallic sheen. Ravens are noticeably smaller compared to crows.
Native raven species
The raven species native to this area are mainly:
- Aaskrähe (Corvus corone)
- Jackdaw, also called tower crow (Corvus monedula)
- Octopus (Corvus corax)
- Hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix) – a subspecies of carrion crow
- Saatkrähe (Corvus frugilegus)
(Maximum) life expectancy
In relation to the life expectancy of ravens, various factors play a role. In principle, the expected age of animals in captivity is significantly higher than that of corvids in the wild. Experts say that a bird lives about five years longer in captivity.
The native raven species reach this maximum age:
| Rabenart | free-living | in prison |
|---|---|---|
| Aaskrähe | 19 years | 22 to 23 years (usually not kept in captivity) |
| Dohle | 20 years | 25 years |
| Octopus | 21 to 23 years | 26 to 28 years |
| hooded crow | 13 to 15 years | 18 years |
| Send a message | 20 years | 25 years |
frequently asked Questions
“Jakob” from the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo was 30 years old (1974-2004). One example of the ravens at the Tower of London is even proven to be 44 years old.
In principle, wild birds of all kinds are threatened by species extinction in the long term. However, there is currently no danger with corvids, as they are very adaptable and their population still significantly exceeds the threatening limit values. Because they get relatively old, sufficient offspring is also ensured.
The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), which is not found in Central Europe, is one of the most recently dying raven species. On average, she lives between seven and eight years.
A weakened raven will usually retreat to a sheltered spot. He prefers a safe hiding place where he gets privacy from predators or predators. If they saw the animal in its position, they would attack and kill it in the wild. To avoid this, a dying raven likes to hide in a cave or thick bushes.
