raven claw costume

The modern English word raven has cognates in all other Germanic languages, including Old Norse (and subsequently modern Icelandic) hrafn[1] and Old High German (h)Raban, [2] all of which descend from Proto-Germanic *hrabanaz. Raven, any of several species of intelligent, heavy-billed, dark birds that are larger than crows and are capable of tool use. The raven, a creature of striking intelligence and enigmatic beauty, has captivated human imagination for millennia. Far more than just a large black bird, the Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a master of adaptation, a complex communicator, and a vital thread in the tapestry of countless ecosystems. The intriguing Common Raven has accompanied people around the Northern Hemisphere for centuries, following their wagons, sleds, sleighs, and hunting parties in hopes of a quick meal. While the Common Raven (Corvus corax) is the most famous, it is actually just one of about 10 distinct raven species found across the globe. From the high-altitude deserts of Africa to the coastal suburbs of Australia, the “raven” blueprint has adapted to almost every climate on Earth.

The Common Raven disappeared from much of the eastern and midwestern United States before 1900. In recent decades, they have been expanding their range again, especially in the Northeast, spreading south into formerly occupied areas. The global population of the raven is estimated to be more than 16 million individuals and increasing. Habitat loss and the human threat of hunting and poisoning are the greatest threats to ravens.