Ravens
Intelligent Black Birds
Silence falls over the forest as a handful of black birds wait in the branches, their next meal just moments away. As the other birds move away from the decay, these wait, the carcasses cooling for a moment before they and their brethren move forth, picking clean the cooling corpses of whatever creature met its end that day. While quite smart, these are birds of opportunity, waiting for some other predator to do the dirty work, for causing the death that fills their bellies and paints their beaks for the next few hours.
Ravens are one of the most common birds found in Vóreios, but they can also be found in parts of Nótios as well. Variations of this bird are scattered from the northernmost reaches to the south and the warmer temperatures. A large carrion bird, these creatures are often mistaken for their smaller siblings, the Crows, but Ravens often have more pronounced beaks and are much quieter, if not silent, with their caws. Ravens are considered to be the silent hunters of the corvids.
Those who have crossed paths with Ravens believe that they have crossed paths with a messenger of Lok, a silent reminder that death eventually finds all. It is common for these birds to be confused with their scavenger siblings when in fact they prefer to stay away from most towns and villages. Their intellect sets them apart, even from the Crows, as they can learn faces and schedules, complete puzzles, and store information to be used at a later date. They do not take trophies like Crows, but their silent judgment is often unsettling.
Basic Information
Similar Stature
Anatomy
Ravens are large birds often ranging from twenty-two to twenty-seven inches from beak to tail. These birds can weigh upwards of three pounds, but their wingspan of up to forty-eight inches is considered impressive for their size. In most places, Ravens are considered the largest carrion bird unless other large birds of prey such as Eagles are present. While considered to be black in color, Raven feathers range greatly in color, often having shades of blue, purple, and green mixed with black. Many describe their feathers as iridescent in color, shining with a plethora of colors. Only in the brightest sunlight are the true colors of their feathers revealed. While Ravens are commonly silent, they do have a number of vocalizations that serve different purposes. Much like Crows, they can also mimic the sounds of other creatures and their environment. Ravens differ from their siblings the Crows due to their larger beaks and their more stable soaring style that does not involve flapping their wings as much as Crows.Genetics & Reproduction
A wide variety of Ravens live throughout Isekai including the Common Raven (Corvus corax), the Northern Raven (C. c. voreios), and the Southern Raven (C. c. notios). Many more variations of Ravens exist throughout the world, but most commonly, all are referred to as Ravens or Crows. In many instances, the names Raven and Crow are used interchangeably as the birds are relatively similar, and to most, it is hard to discern any differences while the creature may be in flight.Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Ravens are one of few birds that can be found in nearly every area of the world, including certain parts of the Great Plains and the areas known as Deadzones. Anywhere where death and decaying carcasses or Crows can be found is often a prime location for groups of Ravens known as unkindnesses. Groups of Ravens are not nearly as fluid as Crows but they do move across various areas depending on the whims of the group, while some pairs may claim an area as their home if food is plentiful.
Due to the size difference, Ravens will sometimes run groups of Crows out of an area if the availability of food is enough to only support one of the groups. In most instances, Ravens and Crows will live in similar areas and may share meals, including with other carrion birds, but only if the area can support a large number of these birds.
I love ravens. I was watching a pair of them for a while at a wildlife centre on Saturday, and you can really tell they think about things before doing it. Nice article showing how they exist in your world.