Little Raven
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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae

[Photo] Little Raven Corvus mellori, Port Elliot, South Australia. Date: March 2006. Photo Copyright (C) Arthur Grosset (www.arthurgrosset.com). Source: http://www.arthurgrosset.com/ozbirds/littleraven.html

The Little Raven (Corvus mellori) was only separated in 1967 from the Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides) as a distinct species. The most significant difference of several is its voice. On average a little smaller than the Australian Raven (48-50 cm in length), though sizes do overlap between both species. This bird is a somewhat more sociable species by comparison, often forming large flocks that roam freely over wide areas in search of food.

Distribution and habitat
The Little Raven ranges over southeastern Australia from southern South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, in scrub, agricultural areas and grazing pasture.

Behaviour

Diet
It tends to take rather more vegetable matter than C. coronoides and to feed mainly on the ground, but is probably omnivorous to a similar extent to other Corvus species when opportunity arises.

Nesting
Little Ravens often nest in a loose colony of up to fifteen pairs. They have often been recorded as having several nests within the nesting territory of a single Australian Raven which, presumably due to different food preferences, does not seem to consider them a threat to its own food resources.

Voice
Its call is a guttural "kar-kar-kar-kar" or "ark-ark-ark-ark".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Raven

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