Little Raven

Scientific Name: Corvus mellori
Wadawurrung Name: waa

Description: The Little Raven is a dark, glossy and all black bird. This species utters a call consisting of a rapid sequence of short, hard, and clipped notes on an even tone. The call may sometimes fall away at the end but never to the extent of the drawn-out wavering death-rattle of the Australian Raven.

There are three similar raven species in the Geelong district, but usually only the Little Raven visits the Bluff area. It lacks the long throat hackles of the Australian Raven. Large flocks congregate on the sand dunes to feast on the white berries of the Coast Beard Heath in mid-summer. They feed mainly on invertebrates, especially insects, but also small vertebrates, including small birds, eggs and nestlings and carrion. Also, some plant material especially seeds and fruit.

Type: Bird
Where to find: woodlands to almost treeless plains, scrub, and coastal areas.
Size: 50cm