Quick Answer
Ravens are mostly black in color, with some blue or purple iridescence on their feathers. Their beak, legs, and feet are also black.
What colors can ravens be?
The common raven (Corvus corax) is entirely black, with some blue or purple iridescence visible on the feathers in sunlight. This iridescent sheen gives their black feathers a glossy, shimmering appearance. Though their plumage appears black at first glance, it can display deep blue, violet, and greenish-purple tones when caught in the right light. The sheen comes from the structure of the feathers, which have multiple layers and change the way light is reflected off of them.
While common ravens are predominantly black, there are some color variations between subspecies and individuals:
– The ravens found in the Himalayas tend to have more extensive white markings on the neck and breast.
– Ravens in the Iranian Plateaus and Central Asia display brownish coloration on their neck feathers.
– The ravens on the North Pacific coasts have more green and bluish iridescence.
– Albino ravens with white plumage are extremely rare but have been documented.
– Some individual ravens display white spotting or feathering on limited parts of their bodies.
So while black is the almost universal raven color, ornithologists recognize regional and individual variation in the amount of light-absorbing black pigment (eumelanin) and light-reflecting iridescence. But no population has coloration that strays far from black and its shimmering counterparts.
Why are ravens black?
Ravens evolved their jet black coloration likely due to several benefits it provided:
– Camouflage – Their dark color allows ravens to blend into their habitats, making them less visible to predators and prey. This helps them survive and hunt more effectively.
– Thermoregulation – Darker feathers absorb more heat from sunlight, helping ravens stay warm in colder environments. The black plumage also absorbs less heat in warm environments to prevent overheating.
– Communication – The stark contrast of black feathers with pale skin on their bills and legs provides visual signaling for other ravens. Dark beaks and eyes are also less reflective, aiding visual communication.
– Intimidation – The midnight coloration gives ravens an imposing, ominous appearance that may help intimidate competitors and deter predators.
– Strength signaling – Melanin, the pigment responsible for black coloration, is costly for birds to produce. Ravens with more complete black plumage may signal their strength and quality to potential mates.
So in essence, ravens evolved to be black because it provided them with survival, social, and reproductive advantages in their environments. Their color is well adapted to their roles as clever scavenging omnivores.
How do the feathers produce color?
Structural coloration and pigmentation both contribute to the black appearance of raven feathers.
Pigments – The black color comes from eumelanin, a pigment deposited in the feathers as they grow. This melanin absorbs most wavelengths of visible light, reflecting back very little, which creates the appearance of black.
Structural color – The shimmery violet, blue, and green sheens are created by the microscopic structure of the feathers. The feathers have a spongy matrix of keratin with air pockets and melanin dispersed throughout at the nanoscale. Different layers of this structure filter out different wavelengths of light through diffraction and interference, producing iridescent hues.
So the pigments absorb most light, and the structural layers reflect back select wavelengths to create the glossy iridescent effect over the matte black background. The specific proportions and arrangements of melanin granules and keratin determine the hue and saturation of the iridescence.
Do the colors vary by gender or age?
There are no major differences in plumage color between male and female common ravens. Both sexes display the same variation of black, violet, blue, and green iridescence in their feathering.
However, raven color can change subtly throughout their lifespan:
– Juvenile plumage – New fledglings have slightly duller, brownish-black feathers with less sheen. Their feathers are more ragged and worn looking.
– First-year plumage – After the first molt at around 6 months old, 1-year-old ravens develop more glossy black feathers with strong iridescence. The sheen may take on a more greenish cast.
– Adult plumage – After 2-4 years, ravens molt again into their mature darker black coloration with violet and blue iridescence. Their feathers become sleeker and shinier.
– Old age fading – Very old ravens may start to show fading and a loss of luster in their feather sheen. Their black color appears duller.
So while all ravens are black, the exact tone and iridescent quality matures along with the bird. But gender has minimal impact on raven coloration.
How does the color vary across different corvid species?
While ravens are black with irisdescent sheens, related corvid species display their own distinctive plumage colors:
Species | Coloration |
---|---|
American Crow | Black with violet-blue iridescence |
Fish Crow | Black with blue-green iridescence |
Northwestern Crow | Black with green and purple iridescence |
Gray Jay | Medium gray with lighter undersides |
Blue Jay | Bright blue wings and tail, white face, black markings |
Eurasian Magpie | Black with bright white belly and shoulders |
Eurasian Jackdaw | Blackish-gray with pale gray head |
Rook | Black with violet-blue iridescence |
While most retain black as the dominant color, some corvids like the Gray Jay and Blue Jay evolved more distinctive color patterns. The differences arise from adaptations to their habitats and lifestyles across varying environments. But within the genus Corvus, most species share a common black plumage, with ravens being the largest and glossiest black corvids.
Do ravens occur in other colors in mythology or culture?
While ravens are black in nature, they appear in other colors in myth, legend, and culture:
– In Norse mythology, ravens Huginn and Muninn had a whitish color. They served as information gatherers for the god Odin.
– Some Native American tribes considered ravens to be white birds sent by the creator. White symbolized spiritual purity.
– In the Bible, the raven that Noah sent out after the flood returned with a green olive leaf in its mouth, indicating land.
– In Chinese mythology, the three-legged raven was red in color. It dwelled in the sun and represented power.
– Celtic goddesses like the Morrigan could transform into red and white ravens. Red signified bloodshed from war.
– In Hinduism, ravens were sometimes portrayed as partly green, representing nature and wildlife.
– In African folklore, the Zambian Kitchen Raven was white to blend in with the clouds and overhear humans unnoticed.
– Some fictional works depict ravens as blood-red or purple with supernatural ties.
So while pure black ravens prevail in nature, mythological ravens come in a rainbow of other hues laden with symbolic meaning. The vivid colors likely made the raven characters stand out and added cultural symbolism to their deeds and abilities. But real common ravens conceal their true colors under black feathers.
Conclusion
In the wild, common ravens occur exclusively in black, though with striking violet, blue, and green iridescence shimmering from their feathers in bright light. Their color results from eumelanin pigments and structural layers in their feathers that absorb most light waves but reflect back select wavelengths to produce an iridescent sheen. While juvenile and very old ravens may appear more dull and brownish-black, all ravens lack bright non-black plumage, unlike their mythological counterparts. So next time you spot a large, all-black bird croaking overhead, know that it’s showing off its true raven colors.