The Common Raven (
Corvus corax) is hardly "common". I tend to think of them as rather extraordinary. They are one of the most intelligent and adaptable birds there are. I see them thriving in some very tough environments, like the dry deserts of Death Valley, and highest peaks of the Sierra.
They can be pests sometimes, in the sense that as an opportunistic scavenger, they do quite well at stealing food from picnickers, not unlike Yogi Bear. They take smaller prey when they can, but humans do such a great job of making food available that it's just easier to hang out where people eat, and take what isn't being watched.
Just the same, they exude a certain air of wisdom and they have interesting personalities. These Ravens were hanging around the Swinging Bridge picnic area in Yosemite Valley.
Ah, nice. I love ravens. The 2nd shot shows how colorful those semi-iridescent "black" feathers can be. Lovely blue cast. I've also seen them in Death Valley on a VERY hot day, and my uncle lived in central Alaska & when it was SUPER cold, the only thing he saw besides people was a raven. =)
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