THE Australian Raven is larger and more wide-spread than the Little Raven which was featured last week.

The species look similar but are best differentiated by their behaviour and calls.

Australian Ravens are black and the adults have white eyes and their feathers on the throat (hackles) are longer than in other species.

They tend to extend these hackles when calling, while holding the head and body in a horizontal position.

Australian Ravens are usually seen in pairs.

Another aid to identification of this species is the absence of wing-flicking while calling.

Young birds resemble the adults, but have dark eyes, shorter throat hackles and often the presence of a pink, pinkish gape (inside of a bird's mouth).

The Australian Raven is mainly carnivorous that includes small animals, insects, eggs, refuse and carrion and only occasionally eating plants like grains and fruits.

They mostly feed on the ground and occasionally among the foliage of trees.

The Australian Raven is found in all habitat types, except for the drier deserts of Western Australia and the wet tropics of Queensland.

They generally prefer treed habitats compared with the more open country dwelling Little Raven.

Established pairs are sedentary and maintain permanent territories although there is extensive dispersal of non-breeding birds following breeding season.

It appears that populations of Australian Ravens in built-up areas have increased greatly in recent years, thought to be in response to the proliferation of refuse, upon which they forage, we generate across our towns and cities.

Australian Ravens construct a large untidy nest in a tall tree, normally consisting of bowl or platform of sticks, lined with grasses, bark and feathers.

Both sexes construct the nest and feed the young.

The incubation of the eggs is performed solely by the female, and only one brood is raised in a year

Along with being usually in pairs, another good way to identify the Australian Raven is their classic territorial call, which consists of the well-known slow, rather high 'ah-ah-ah-aaaah' with the last note drawn out.