How long do ravens live?
The oldest Common Raven on record lived to 69 years, a record from a bird in captivity. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild ravens live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 69 years
- Record from
- Bird in captivity
- Age at first breeding
- About 3 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 22.1–27.2 in, 24.3–57.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 11
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Common Raven can survive to, not what most do. This one comes from captivity, where there are no predators, storms or food shortages, so wild ravens rarely come close.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Ravens usually start breeding at about 3 years old. Each season a pair lays 3–7 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 20–25 days to hatch.
How ravens compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other crows and jays on this site.
- Blue Jay26.2 years
- Black-billed Magpie20 years
- American Crow20 years
- Canada Jay19.2 years
- Clark's Nutcracker17.4 years
- Steller's Jay16.1 years
More about ravens
Frequently asked
How long do ravens live?
The longest-lived Common Raven on record reached 69 years, recorded from a bird in captivity. Most wild ravens live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Common Raven when it first breeds?
Usually about 3 years old.
What is the oldest Common Raven ever recorded?
69 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Common Raven raise in a year?
Pairs lay 3–7 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info