Australian Ravens: How close to Melbourne are they found?

Ren Millsom, a member of Andrew Silcocks’ team, reviewing data posted to Birdata amongst other things, has sent the following note.

“We have recently had cause to review all Australian Raven records in the greater Melbourne area.  In starting this review, we asked very experienced observers resident in Melbourne for advice. None could recall ever hearing this raven in the Melbourne area (one had two personal records supported by documentation over 12 years ago) and also were doubtful about the presence of this raven on the grass plains west of Melbourne stretching to Geelong. A common theme is that the Australian Raven prefers large heavily timbered areas eg the Dandenongs, Brisbane Ranges and avoids urban areas.

All acknowledged that there is a fair degree of difficulty amongst observers in separating Australian and Little Ravens. People hear Little Ravens give their long-drawn-out note and assume they must be Australian Ravens (though the calls are quite different really). Some popular field guides do not even mention this drawn-out call of the Little Raven.  Both ravens have throat hackles and using this to separate them is considered not reliable.

But HANZAB vol 7, page 692 states - Australian Raven call "powerful, high-pitched and slow, usually ending with a drawn-out, far-carrying and strong wail". Little Raven (in part) "while call often ends with a drawn-out descending somewhat wailing note, it differs . . . by being much lower and shorter". We also refer you to the BOCA CD No 9 which gives both calls, including the shorter wail of the Little Raven."

So to all Melbourne Birders, especially BirdLife Melbourne Outings Leaders, please pay particular attention to sightings of ravens in the Melbourne and Outer Melbourne Area to make sure they are recorded correctly. 

If anybody does have a sighting of Australian Raven close to Melbourne, please contact Ren Millsom at Birds Australia, Tel: 9347 0757 or Email: r.millsom@birdlife.org.au