Common Raven in February
Where ravens are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the Common Raven's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the Common Raven specifically, February is a winter month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 43 states and provinces where ravens occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where ravens are in February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, ravens are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in February
February is inside the Common Raven nesting season — about a month earlier in the South and a month later in the North. Nest: large stick platform on cliffs, pines or structures. Clutch 3–7 eggs, incubation 20–25 days, 1 per season.
In the South the season is already underway, while northern birds are still settling territories — a pair in Florida or Texas may be on eggs weeks before a pair in Minnesota or Ontario has even chosen a nest site. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in February
- Carrion, grain and refuse
Ravens are cautious at feeding stations and prefer quiet rural ground; they cache surplus food.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
Watching ravens this month
In February, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region ravens are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Common Raven month by month
Common Raven by state
Frequently asked
Where are ravens in February?
In February, ravens are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do ravens nest in February?
Yes — February falls inside the Common Raven nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do ravens eat in February?
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.