Corvus corax

The Common Raven is classified as Near Threatened (NT), because of its small population size (less than 1,000 mature individuals). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Endangered (EN). The improvement in its status reflects the improvement in its population size and its range expansion, particularly in Eastern Samaria, the Judean Desert and the Negev Highlands.

Habitats	Desert Cliffs, Mediterranean Cliffs
Presence In Israel	Resident
Nesting In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident
Zoography Zones	Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian
Landscape Formations	Mountainous, Cliffs
Vegetation Formations	Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue
Vegetation Densities	Low, Medium
Nest Locations	Cliffs
Diet Types	Omnivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Large (over 1000g)
Threat Factors	Pesticide Poisoning, Lead Poisoning

The Common Raven is a relatively rare resident species. It is extinct as a breeder in the Mediterranean region, except for a few pairs in the northern Golan Heights. About 40-80 pairs are estimated to breed in the Judean Desert and Eastern Samaria, and 30 to 50 pairs in the Negev (Mayrose & Hatsofe 2017). In was once a common breeder throughout the Mediterranean region. Until the mid-20th century, a few hundred pairs nested on Mt. Hermon, in the Golan Heights, the Galilee, Mt. Carmel, Samaria and Judea south to Bethlehem. During the 1960s and 1970s, a drastic reduction in the number of individuals was recorded, probably due to poisoning. During the 1980s, the population recovered somewhat, and at the end of the decade 25-30 pairs nested in Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Mountainous or cliff landscapes, mainly in the Mediterranean region, but in other climate conditions as well, except for extreme deserts.

Poisoning – Common Ravens are very susceptible to poisoning as they feed on arthropods and small carrion such as rodents. This is probably the main reason for the dramatic decline in their population, recorded in the second half 20th century.
Direct disturbance – mainly by hikers and rock climbers.

• מירוז, א. והצופה, א. 2014. סיכום סקר קינון עופות דורסים במדבר יהודה. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
• פרלמן, י., שוחט, א. ולבינגר, ז. 2009. סקר אטלס ציפורים בערבה סיכום שנת 2009. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International