Common Raven vs Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Corvus corax compared with Accipiter nisus

Key Differences

• Common Raven is Not Evaluated while Eurasian Sparrowhawk is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Raven	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)
Family	Corvidae (Crows & Ravens)	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus	Corvus (Crows & Ravens)	Accipiter
Species	Corvus corax	Accipiter nisus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Raven and Eurasian Sparrowhawk share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Common Raven

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~16.0M

Trend: Increasing ↑

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Raven	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Diet	Omnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	60 cm	—
Average Weight	1.2 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Raven

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

Common Raven

One of the most intelligent birds known, common ravens demonstrate problem-solving abilities rivaling great apes, including tool use, planning, and deceptive behavior. Found across the Northern Hemisphere from Arctic tundra to deserts, ravens are highly adaptable omnivores. They form complex social hierarchies, engage in cooperative foraging, and have been observed engaging in play. Their intelligence and black plumage have made them figures of mythology across many cultures.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden