Little Raven
| Little Raven Conservation status: Secure | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 |
The Little Raven (Corvus mellori) was only separated in 1967 from the Australian Raven (C. coronoides) as a distinct species. The most significant difference of several is its voice. On average a little smaller than the Australian Raven (48-50 cm in length), though sizes do overlap between both species. This bird is a somewhat more sociable species by comparison, often forming large flocks that roam freely over wide areas in search of food.
The Little Raven ranges over southeastern Australia from southern South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, in scrub, agricultural areas and grazing pasture.
It tends to take rather more vegetable matter than C. coronoides and to feed mainly on the ground, but is probably omnivorous to a similar extent to other Corvus species when opportunity arises.
Little Ravens often nest in a loose colony of up to fifteen pairs. They have often been recorded as having several nests within the nesting territory of a single Australian Raven which, presumably due to different food preferences, does not seem to consider them a threat to its own food resources.
Its call is a guttural "kar-kar-kar-kar" or "ark-ark-ark-ark".
Photo Image Links:
- Little Raven in dead tree (http://birdway.com.au/corvini/images/LittleRaven3762.jpg)
- Several images of the Little Raven (http://www.viridans.com/birdpics/rbird.htm)
- Skull of Little Raven (Without beak sheath) (http://www.skullsite.com/images/dbimages/large/corvusmellori_s.jpg)
