Corvus Corax, Common Raven Amended Version Assessment By: Birdlife International

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T22706068A113271893 Scope: Global Language: English

Corvus corax, Common Raven Amended version Assessment by: BirdLife International

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Citation: BirdLife International. 2017. Corvus corax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22706068A113271893. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017- 1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ Taxonomy

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Aves Passeriformes Corvidae

Taxon Name: Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758

Regional Assessments: • Europe

Common Name(s): • English: Common Raven, Northern Raven, Raven Taxonomic Source(s): del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK. Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published: 2017

Date Assessed: October 1, 2016

Justification: This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Previously Published Red List Assessments 2016 – Least Concern (LC) http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706068A87396663.en

2014 – Least Concern (LC) http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T22706068A62548387.en

2012 – Least Concern (LC)

2009 – Least Concern (LC)

2008 – Least Concern (LC)

2000 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)

1994 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)

1988 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)

Geographic Range

Country Occurrence: Native: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Armenia (Armenia); Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bhutan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Canada; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; El Salvador; Estonia; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Greenland; Guatemala; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lebanon; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Mexico; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Nepal; Netherlands; Nicaragua; Norway; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Serbia (Serbia); Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain (Canary Is.); Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States (Georgia); Uzbekistan

Vagrant: Malta; Panama; Svalbard and Jan Mayen; United Arab Emirates

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Corvus corax – published in 2017. 3 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en Population The global population is estimated to number > c.16,000,000 individuals (Rich et al. 2004). The European population is estimated at 611,000-1,160,000 pairs, which equates to 1,220,000-2,320,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend Justification This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (166% increase over 40 years, equating to a 27.7% increase per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007). In Europe, trends between 1980 and 2013 show that populations have undergone a moderate increase (EBCC 2015). Current Population Trend: Increasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information) The species is a habitat generalist, breeding throughout forested and open coastal, steppe, mountain, tundra and cliff regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It generally occupies more open habitat in the south and north portions of range where cliffs, sparse trees and human structures provide nest locations. In middle latitudes it is generally found in coniferous and broadleaf forests, where tree- nesting often more common than cliff-nesting. It is abundant in temperate (coniferous) rainforest along the north Pacific coast of North America. It generally avoids large cities but is abundant in Anchorage, Alaska and locally abundant in California metropolitan areas (Marzluff 2009). Egg-laying begins in late February over most of its range, although further north in Greenland and Siberia it begins later in April (Madge and Burn 1993). The nest is a large and bulky platform, made from dead sticks, lined with fine roots, grass, string and other bits of rubbish, and with mammal fur to make an inner cup. It is placed in the stout, lower branches of a tree, on a steep cliff, or on an artificial structure such as a utility pole, building, sign, radio tower, abandoned vehicle, oil derrick, bridge, irrigation pipe or windmill. Clutch size is typically four to six eggs. It is an opportunistic scavenger, consuming a huge variety of animals and plants. It preys on adult and nestling birds, eggs, small mammals, sick and dying larger mammals, toads, snakes, juvenile turtles, fish and invertebrates. It also scavenges garbage and slaughterhouse offal, dung, and nearly any kind of carrion and some plant matter is also consumed (Marzluff 2009). The species is mostly sedentary but northern populations are liable to move south in winter (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Systems: Terrestrial

Threats From mid-1600s to mid-1900s or later this species was widely persecuted due to fear and superstition, resulting in European populations being reduced, often to point of creating gaps in the species's distribution (e.g. throughout much northern and central Europe). Persecution still continues in Iceland and Greenland but throughout the rest of Europe it is much reduced, allowing the species to recolonize areas it was previously extirpated from. Increasing populations of this species in much of western U.S.A. have led to conflict and targeted killing campaigns with large numbers shot and poisoned in California, Oregon, Utah and Nevada with limited and short-term benefits to crops and other wildlife (Marzluff 2009). Currently, intensive farming, the removal of woodland and human disturbance may also affect the species (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Corvus corax – published in 2017. 4 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information) Conservation Actions Underway Active reintroduction efforts and increased subsidization, have aided its return to parts of Germany, the Netherlands, south-east U.S.A. (Marzluff 2009) and the Czech Republic (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Conservation Actions Proposed Although this species is not threatened the continuation in fall of persecution and the preservation of woodland stands within the landscape would help this species recover from past declines. Encourage land managers in North America to adopt non-lethal methods of deterring ravens from agricultural areas, rubbish dumps and other sites (Marzluff 2009). Credits

Assessor(s): BirdLife International

Reviewer(s): Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Facilitators(s) and Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Symes, A., Ashpole, J Compiler(s):

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Corvus corax – published in 2017. 5 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en Bibliography BirdLife International. 2015. European Red List of Birds. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

Brazil, M. 2009. Birds of East Asia: eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, eastern Russia. Christopher Helm, London.

Butcher, G. S.; Niven, D. K. 2007. Combining data from the Christmas bird count and the breeding bird survey to determine the continental status and trends of North American birds.

EBCC. 2015. Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. Available at: http://www.ebcc.info/index.php?ID=587.

Hagemeijer, E.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC atlas of European breeding birds: their distribution and abundance. T. and A. D. Poyser, London.

IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 07 December 2016).

IUCN. 2017. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.

Madge, S.; Burn, H. 1993. Crows and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. Helm Information, Robertsbridge, U.K.

Marzluff, J. 2009. Common Raven (Corvus corax). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds), Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive, Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Rich, T.D., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., Blancher, P.J., Bradstreet, M.S.W., Butcher, G.S., Demarest, D.W., Dunn, E.H., Hunter, W.C., Inigo-Elias, E.E., Martell, A.M., Panjabi, A.O., Pashley, D.N., Rosenberg, K.V., Rustay, C.M., Wendt, J.S. and Will, T.C. 2004. Partners in flight: North American landbird conservation plan. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY.

Citation BirdLife International. 2017. Corvus corax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22706068A113271893. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en

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External Resources For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

Habitats (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major Season Suitability Habitat Importance? 14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.6. Artificial/Terrestrial - Subtropical/Tropical Breeding Suitable No Heavily Degraded Former Forest

0. Root -> 6. Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Non- Suitable Yes breeding

0. Root -> 6. Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Breeding Suitable Yes

4. Grassland -> 4.4. Grassland - Temperate Breeding Suitable No

3. Shrubland -> 3.7. Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Breeding Suitable No

3. Shrubland -> 3.5. Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Breeding Suitable No

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Breeding Suitable Yes

1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Breeding Suitable No

1. Forest -> 1.4. Forest - Temperate Non- Suitable No breeding

1. Forest -> 1.4. Forest - Temperate Breeding Suitable No

Conservation Actions in Place (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning

Action Recovery plan: No

Systematic monitoring scheme: Yes

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Invasive species control or prevention: No

In-Place Species Management

Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No

Subject to ex-situ conservation: No

In-Place Education

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Corvus corax – published in 2017. 7 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en Conservation Actions in Place Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No

Included in international legislation: No

Subject to any international management/trade controls: No

Additional Data Fields

Distribution Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 137000000

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No

Continuing decline in number of locations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No

Upper elevation limit (m): 5000

Population Continuing decline of mature individuals: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations: No

Population severely fragmented: No

Continuing decline in subpopulations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in subpopulations: No

All individuals in one subpopulation: No

Habitats and Ecology Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Unknown

Generation Length (years): 7.9

Movement patterns: Not a Migrant

Amended Edited Country of Occurrence. reason:

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Corvus corax – published in 2017. 9 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22706068A113271893.en The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T22706068A113271893 Scope: Global Language: English

The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™