Ravens have an extremely varied diet as they scavenge on many different species such as moose, domestic goats, deer, caribou, domestic cows and sheep. In the Mojave Desert, they are known to eat roadkills. Ravens also scavenge on snakes, ground squirrels, antelopes, and black-tailed jackrabbits.
What Do Ravens Eat in the Wild
Ravens are not only scavengers and predators but they are equally vegetarians. Its diet is as diverse as that of a crow. Carrion however makes the greater part of their diet.
Common Ravens
- The common raven has an omnivorous diet their diet varies with season. Ravens living in the Arctic Tundra (Alaska) tend to feed more on microtine rodents as well as ptarmigan and caribou carcasses.
- Ravens are the probably the most opportunistic birds. This also explains why raven symbolism in some cultures is considered to be intelligent as well as associated with bad omens.
- They also consume carrion beetles and maggots. If the prey is too large to tear it, ravens wait until another predator tears it apart.
- Common raven’s diet also includes plants, berries, fruits, and cereal grains. They will also eat amphibians, birds, small mammals, small invertebrates and reptiles.
- They will even digest some animal feces along with human waste products.
- Ravens often chase arctic foxes and grey wolf to enjoy their leftovers.
- Unlike crows, common ravens mostly eat condor eggs so much so that they have become the natural threat to condor’s chicks.
- Some road-killed vertebrates also make the part of raven’s diet.
- Grasshoppers
- Arthropods
- Beetles
- Great blue herons (chicks),
- Baby tortoises,
- Fish
- Sled-dog dung,
- Mice,
- Adult rock pigeons,
- Scorpions,
- Buds and eggs are essential part of the raven’s diet.
Little Ravens
Little ravens are thought to rely on ground-dwelling insects. Their diet consists of;
- Millipedes
- Spiders
- Grasshoppers
- Centipedes
- Cicadas
- Caterpillars
Australian Ravens
The Australian raven is known to consume much more as compared to smaller corvids. During the summer, insects make the most of their diet while in autumn they rely on plant items. In winter, they will consume flesh and invertebrates.
- Millipedes
- Caterpillars
- Grasshoppers
- Yabbies
- Earthworms
- Starlings
- Cicadas
- Centipedes
- Young Galahs
- Young rabbits
- Christmas beetles