General

Chihuahuan Raven: Relatively small raven, entirely metallic blue-black except for inconspicuous white neck feathers which are infrequently displayed. Eyes are pale brown. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has dark brown eyes.

Range and Habitat

Chihuahuan Raven: This species breeds from southern Arizona, central and southeastern Colorado and western Kansas southward into central Mexico. It spends winters in southern part of its breeding range into southern Mexico. This bird's preferred habitats include arid grasslands, plains, and deserts.

Breeding and Nesting

Chihuahuan Raven: Three to eight dull green eggs, spotted and streaked with brown and purple, are laid in a loose nest made of thorny sticks, lined with grass, moss, and bark strips, and built in an exposed tree or on a telephone pole. Incubation ranges from 18 to 21 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Chihuahuan Raven: Eats insects, especially grasshoppers and beetles, cultivated grains, small reptiles, cactus fruit, carrion, eggs and young of birds, and scraps of human food.

Vocalization

Chihuahuan Raven: Call is a drawling "crooaak." As a warning, utters a guttural "quark, quark."

Similar Species

Chihuahuan Raven: Crows are smaller, have squared tails, and different calls. Common Raven is larger with somewhat different call and occupies less arid habitats.