Common Raven vs small tortoiseshell

Corvus corax compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Common Raven is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Raven	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Corvidae (Crows & Ravens)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Corvus (Crows & Ravens)	Aglais
Species	Corvus corax	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Raven and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Raven

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~16.0M

Trend: Increasing ↑

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Raven	small tortoiseshell
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).

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

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