Reason for Raven Acrobatics?

[Cutty Dyer]

While repairing a dry stone wall on Sunday, I witnessed a raven carrying out a tremendous acrobatic display. The Raven was tucking its wings to its side and performing a series of half barrel rolls (left & right).

Why the display? Could it be a show for the ladies (assumption it was male) or a defensive tactic. There was a buzzard in the area, but the Raven was by far the larger bird & the buzzard in question spends most of its time running from a pair of crows!

[Gill Catton]

These are amazing birds and no mistake. Certainly when ravens are pairing up or renewing bonds they will perform towering displays of tumbling - often in flocks where a pair climb to the top and then tumble down simultaneously.

Native people higher up in the artic circle are convinced that raven indicate the location potential prey animals to the hunters by performing these wing dips and the people actively follow the birds. Its thought that they do this because a raven cannot open up a carcass, its beak just isn't designed the right way so they benefit from hunts by scavenging any remains that hunters leave behind.

They are massively intelligent birds and for that reason there could be a multitude of causes for the behaviour - even that its just playing (perhaps its a non-breeder). It may be dsiplaying to a bird you can't even see that's over a mile away!

There's a book called 'mind of the raven' by Bernd Heinrich which is a fantastic book all about their behaviour which is quite astonishing at times.

[Cutty Dyer]

Thanks for taking the time to answer, you’ve really captured my imagination with your reply - I’ll be hunting down a copy of Bernd Heinrich’s book.

[Jim Ford]

Ravens are probably my favourite bird.

I've seen lone ones flying across moorland, without another raven in sight, suddenly give a croak and execute a barrel roll. It's difficult to avoid the thought that they do it for fun.

Jim

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I've seen lone ones flying across moorland, without another raven in sight
Jim

Interesting - raises the question, were we ground huggers the intended audience for the display?

[Rob_D]

I had one tumbling above me in Scotland, without another in sight. I really got the feeling it was for my benefit and he was just showing off. It sounds like I'm not the only one who has thought that. Probably some more rational explanation, but it's nice to think they are trying to impress us; it definitely succeeded with me at least.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Rob_D

I had one tumbling above me in Scotland, without another in sight. I really got the feeling it was for my benefit and he was just showing off. It sounds like I'm not the only one who has thought that. Probably some more rational explanation, but it's nice to think they are trying to impress us; it definitely succeeded with me at least.

The book I mentioned suggests that Ravens have always lived following carnivores be they foxes, wolves or man (which makes sense seeing as they really struggle to open a carcass themselves). The visible rolls may be sheer excitement at the anticipation of a meal or when they sight something they know the carnivore might eat.

They really do have good eyesight and the book describes how they can tell a certain type of buzzard from a certain type of vulture (one of which is a threat and one of which isn't) from two miles away where a birdwatcher would struggle even with binoculars as the two birds look so similar. So it may be that you can't see what the raven is communicating with - but there maybe a bird you can't see some distance away. However, I would not be surprised if the display was indeed for your benefit.

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

However, I would not be surprised if the display was indeed for your benefit.

The raven is one of four that occasionally visit the fields adjoining my property, I’ll be paying them far more attention in future.

[Ronz]

We live in rural Renfrewsire and had been hearing Croaking from Ravens for a couple of days. We just saw two ravens tumbling, seemingly playing /courting when one picked off a starling. They are now plucking it!