And it is 100% right. We’re about 50 generations away from “domesticating” this bird the way we “domesticated” cats. By having them notice how cute they are and then weaponizing it against us until we give them food.
We used to have a bunch of grackles (bigger black birds) nest in out back yard before the trees they nested in died. They always made me laugh because when we would throw out old food, like bread, for them they would land a few feet away and drunkenly wander their way up to it.
The sound he's making sounds like a camera making a low tone and then the shutter clicking. It's possible someone was feeding him to get him to stick around while they took pictures and now he's imitating the camera sound to let you know he's available for a gig (and the free catering involved)
No. The sounds we hear in the video are a normal part of a raven's repertoire of sounds. Crows make similar sounds as well. However, based on the slight nuances of brown in his wing coverts, this individual might be a first year male, which may explain his curious behaviour. He's young and curious and has not seen a lot of humans yet so checks it out.
@@Usulcardo I could imagine that both can be true. As young as it seems, it maybe already have made the connection between humans on a parking lot and wasted food. It almost looks like the raven want the human to drop some food by imitating the movement to pick something up.
@@sleepingcity85 Sure, anything is possible with such intelligent animals. I'm just saying this because the sounds are normal and it's common for younger corvids to be somewhat less wary than experienced adults. But this raven definitely has something in mind, unfortunately we'll never know exactly what.
I call them 'floor birds' when they walk. Idk, it just sounds cute. When I see a bird (especially a crow, as they live near me) walking, I say aloud, "Aww, look! A floor bird."
The clicking noises you hear (although we will never know for certain) is thought to be a "dialect" that crows and ravens use for family members and close friends. The caw sound you hear is their "external" or "species" language. Personally I have always been fascinated by corvid-speak and I have a video of my own with a crow speaking in clicks to me.
oh yes, its pretty nifty because crows and magpies seemingly have the most boring sounds of all the birds. However if you live nearby magpies for long enough you really notice it when they feel like singing small melodies, typically when the weather turned nice or winter is nearing its end, its like they just feel like making pretty noises for no reason, and typically they are alone when they do
Yep, ravens can squawk it up with the best of them, but they have a whole range of other sounds. Where I live, they often make a single bell like sound.
Great book "Ravens in Winter". A biologist who'd previously worked with bumble bees became curious about some raven behavior. He figured observations over 4 or 5 weekends would solve it. Five years later ... he published this book, and later several more. Easy read, fun, especially anyone who likes the outdoors. He's sitting 75 feet up in a white pine to observe, freezing temps. Or his cabin stove sends the smoke back down into the cabin if the wind is just right. Hauling hundreds of pounds of meat and suet to attract the crows. He's a maniac. Greatly admire him.
once you re hooked on birds, there s no way back! They re too cute to watch and maybe even interact. I m at 10 kgs of dried mealworms + 15 kgs of sunflower seeds n suet balls monthly now for my garden birds...started with 1 kg mealworms a month and one feeder, i now have 6 feeders n 3 bathing pools for my birds around my garden........
Yes, despite this kind of answer rarely being very scientific. In that case, that’s most likely the actual answer. Ravens have been shown to point with their beaks the same way we would use our fingers and can be quite purposeful to that extent. The clicking sound is definitely not a camera sound like someone says above (although they can do that). I’ve heard plenty of raven make similar sounds with their partners, clicks are very common to ravens. My guess is that it has received more food while making that sound in human presence inadvertently in the passed, thus grabbing the attention of people and has learned to repeat it to trigger the same reward response. They are surprisingly good at seeing patterns. So although that sound is probably unrelated to food in origin it’s likely that it was repurposed for that.
For this, I always carry bird seed on me. Maybe not their favorite or even preferred food, but it is universal to make a bird like you. Very beautiful raven!
This video is in Yellowstone. You'd probably get kicked out for that. Even if no one caught you, it's bad to feed wild birds to get them to like you, since the bird doesn't learn to like you, it learns that humans are a source of food and that can put the bird in danger eventually.
Bro’s just on a walk, enjoying the day. And then saw a human and wanted a snack. This raven knows exactly what he wants. So polite and even making the motions of eating so the human got the idea. Such a smart bird
@@MelindaGreen So true! The crows and bluejays in my backyard go absolutely crazy for unsalted, in shell peanuts! They're lucky that a grocery store near me sells 5 lb bags of in shell peanuts for only $7. So, I can afford to feed those smart birdies every day.
Salt doesn't harm them any more than it does humans. A study was done on crows eating a fast food diet and their cholesterol levels were high, but there was no indication of salt being a health issue.
@@saskiadavies111 Yes, I imagine that would be the case. Crows eat a fair amount of meat which is naturally salty. I think the other person is just being cautious which I think is a good idea, and I appreciate your pragmatic approach as well, especially as I accidentally just bought a bunch of salted peanuts!
The noise itself and what he does to make it both remind me of a cat "puke windup," which I find amusing. I was worried about him for a second before I realized "no, he's just talking."
That is a very charming greeting that you received and an invitation of friendship I would be truly honored at such a lovely reception from such a fine individual.
I was half expecting to see a misidentified crow, not a real full beard raven! He's gorgeous! If I had the walnuts I feed to the birds out back that sweet cutie pie would have gotten the whole container! XD
Ravens are very vocal birds. I occasionally hear the local ones make a kind of "pew pew" sound, a bit like a laser gun in a video game. No idea what it means.
Considering ravens are great mimics, there's a decent chance they're mimicking local squirrels. I have no clue why, but it's a sound I hear squirrels make all the time when they're upset about something.
Retired in downtown Spokane Valley --- They will eat cat food - have had both Ravens and Crows -- they come and they go -- have had them stand at my open front door -- just like us they R very curious --- Last summer during a wind event - 90 deg - they had a blast show n off 4 me -- that is when I realized they love the wind - complete fun 4 them !!!
I love this!! This boy would've joined you in your car, with no trouble, for a joy ride and food. Love how he's talking to you and asking for a snack or food. Just checking things out. This is sweet. I miss seeing ravens. Just a buddy hanging out.
Looks like a young one. He's asking for water. They do that at a resort near my place, and when they do that, people will put water in a container, put it down and they go to it right away. They're so incredibly intelligent. The ones we have are giant. They can easily compare in size to a large eagle. I'm in BC Canada
My thoughts exactly. It's the same noise as the water pouring from the pipe or a big bottle. My agapornis made similar sounds like uncorking the bottle and the gulp sound when we drank 🥤
A large eagle, a 14-pound Martial Eagle with a wingspan of eight feet. Are you seriously suggesting you have Ravens that "easily compare" to that size in BC?
adore these corvids; such intelligence and we really don’t know the half of it! I wish I could have studied them in school.. once upon a time there was a beautiful capture from Valentine’s Day (the day posted) of a Raven couple playing in the snow tumbling around and playing with some vocals. wish that were still up!
Please keep us updated on your travels! I absolutely loved my visit to Yellowstone and miss it so. I love seeing photos and videos of the park and all the others as well. The Ravens there are so fluffy and don't mind people at all! Snapped some super cute photos of them. :) (honestly they guilt tripped my family into feeding them some lettuce...). Such a beautiful place and moment! "Quoth the Raven/ Nevermore"
1:43 - when you get to 1:44 pause the video, and gently shake your phone (like very small yaw/oscillating phone edges bringing one side at a time, very very slightly closer to you) and the bird looks like he's 3D. Optical illusion.
In corvids it’s rather the opposite. It’s usually territorial. But it might also just be a show of confidence in this instance given he is approaching a potential threat even if just for food.
I have crows in my garden and one became less shy (it was probably a young one who has grown up with my presence). And he also made similar sounds several times. Not exactly the same sounds, but pretty similar. Same head movements too. It was a hooded crow. I have long been trying to find out what this sound means. Does anybody know?
Sometimes if crows like you enough they will give you a name. If they make the same exact sound every time you come out that might be the name they gave you and they are telling the others “hey y’all bonk/click is here to give us food!”
@@roachsprouts what's wrong with that? Probably dealing with an intelligence around that of a child, no threat. Ravens are probably more intelligent than regular crows they've been shown to befriend wolf puppies then as adults the wolf will be attached to the Raven, protect it and share its food with the Raven.
@@doompotty Hm, it's possible. Although my general impression was that he did not necessarily aim it at me. Sometimes he did that close to me, but often I was further away and he also didn't look at me. It's a mystery.
I don't know for sure, but having encountered ravens in 3 different cities with quite a long distance between them, I get the impression that they have something of a regional accent (this one sounding distinctly different than the ones I've hung around). I've also heard them properly imitate other sounds, which is more than a bit confusing when you're not expecting it.
He’s got such charm as he swags and walks his way towards you. I’m already feeling like he has quite the name for himself. Mr Prince of darkness. And then he starts flirting with the princess. He has such a way with words.
It’s already been said in the comments but Ravens are brilliant birds, he’s clearly mimicking eating food and clicking at you to be fed… He likely has made human friends before and is telling you he’d like a snack please. 😂
He's gesturing that he wants "to have a bite". Especially when he aims at the ground and mimics 'chop stick pinching something up'. That bird learned how to do sign language to humans.
