Raven Illustration

 

Corvidae: Tracks

 

Ravens, like most of the corvidae, spend a lot of time on the ground. They tend to 'walk' rather than hop from place to place, and their tracks show this. Rather than side-by-side prints, they leave alternating tracks. Three thick toes point forwards, and one long toe (equally thick) points back. On good prints, you can see each toe finished with a sharp claw scatch.

Raven's prints can be up to 10 cm long, with a stride (step) of 15 cm or more, and a straddle (the distance between right and left feet) of 10 cm. (For you imperial types, I think that's 4 inches, 6 inches, 4 inches). Crow prints are a little smaller, approximately 7.5 cm long (3 inches). Magpies prints are smaller yet, around 5 cm (2 inches) in length. Their strides and straddles are shorter, too, in relation to the print size. Of course, the stride and straddle will vary depending on what the bird was doing at the time... exploring, turning in circles, or trying to get from one place to another quickly.

raven tracks

Despite the fact that 'crow footed' is a term used to describe people who walk with their toes pointed inwards, crows and ravens usually leave relatively parallel tracks (more so than many ground-walking birds). However, if they need to run, or are preparing for a hurried take-off, they make leave a set of irregularly placed tracks moving in a diagonal line. Sometimes you can make out wing strokes in the dust or snow just before take-off, too. In the case of the black-billed magpie, a tail print may occassionally be visible.

 


The Aviary
Back to Main
Back to Corvidae: Information
Email me
Drop me a line!


Last modified June 19, 1998