First recorded observations of conspecific egg and nestling consumption in common ravens (Corvus corax)
June 10, 2020
We observed cannibalism, the act of consuming a conspecific, of eggs and nestlings by Common Ravens (Corvus corax; hereafter “raven”) by video-monitoring nests in Nevada and California. Specifically, within the sagebrush steppe of Nevada, adult ravens killed and consumed raven chicks from an active nest. Additionally, on the coast of California, we observed adult ravens consume inviable eggs from their own nest following full-term incubation. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first documented cannibalistic behavior by ravens.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2020 |
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Title | First recorded observations of conspecific egg and nestling consumption in common ravens (Corvus corax) |
DOI | 10.3398/064.080.0211 |
Authors | Joseph Atkinson, Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, David J. Delehanty |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Western North American Naturalist |
Index ID | 70219262 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Western Ecological Research Center |