Diet
What do ravens eat?
Omnivorous — carrion, small animals, eggs, grain and fruit.
Crows and jays (Corvidae)Common RavenCorvus corax
Spring and summer diet
- Insects, rodents, nestlings and carrion
Fall and winter diet
- Carrion, grain and refuse
Best feeder foods
- Peanuts in the shell
- Suet scraps
Ravens are cautious at feeding stations and prefer quiet rural ground; they cache surplus food.
Where ravens need winter food
Regions where ravens are present in the cold months:
AlaskaAlbertaArizonaBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaColoradoIdahoKansasKentuckyMaineManitobaMichiganMinnesotaMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew BrunswickNew HampshireNew MexicoNew YorkNewfoundland and LabradorNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavutOklahomaOntarioOregonPennsylvaniaPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanSouth DakotaTennesseeUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingYukon
Frequently asked
What do ravens eat?
Omnivorous — carrion, small animals, eggs, grain and fruit.
What is the best food to feed ravens?
Peanuts in the shell, Suet scraps.
What do ravens eat in winter?
Carrion, grain and refuse.
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
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.