Vocalizations of Common Ravens in Virginia

Abstract
I tape recorded 1,210 vocalizations and observed the behavior of Common Ravens (Corvus corax) in southwestern Virginia from 1972 through 1976. Eighteen call types were identified and observed in conjunction with behavior at a communal roost, a landfill, and nest sites. I speculate that different call types were associated with excitement, agonistic interactions, aggression, alert, courtship, submission, and thwarting. Common Ravens in Virginia and hand-reared, captive ravens in Germany shared six call types, suggesting that the use of these call types may be innate. Although Common Ravens in Virginia, Alaska, and Germany gave many similar call types, locally learned call types may be present in each geographic area. Numbers of shared call types suggest that vocal behavior of ravens in Virginia resembles that of other North American ravens more than European ravens.

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