How to attract ravens to your yard
Common Ravens respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 43 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Common Raven is a year-round resident in 43 states and provinces, including Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado and 37 more — there, a yard can host it in every season.
Plant what ravens use
These native plants are tied to the Common Raven in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 25 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 24 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 22 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 22 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 21 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial | 21 | Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 20 | Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed. |
| White oak Quercus alba | Tree | 18 | Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 16 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | 14 | Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives ravens food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Omnivorous — carrion, small animals, eggs, grain and fruit.
- Warm months
- Insects, rodents, nestlings and carrion
- Cold months
- Carrion, grain and refuse
- At feeders
- Peanuts in the shell, Suet scraps
Feeder style matters as much as food: platform / tray feeder is the first choice for this bird. Ravens are cautious at feeding stations and prefer quiet rural ground; they cache surplus food. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Large stick platform on cliffs, pines or structures.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 20–25 days
- Nestling period
- 28–50 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around January in Arizona but not until March in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts ravens to a yard?
Food they actually eat (peanuts in the shell, suet scraps), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Chokecherry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: large stick platform on cliffs, pines or structures.
What plants attract ravens?
Across the Common Raven's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting ravens?
Nesting starts around January in Arizona and as late as March in Yukon. Have cover, water ready a month before.
Sources
- Common Raven — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Raven life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Raven — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.