Seen close up the raven is a truly magnificent bird. The largest member of the crow family, it is the biggest passerine (perching) bird in Europe, and occurs all over Ireland. Size is the raven’s most distinguishing feature. At 54 to 68 cm long, with a wingspan doubling that, it dwarfs any….

Hooded crows are a pretty cranky bunch at this time of year, and don’t seem to tolerate much in the way of intrusion on their “patch” by anything remotely perceived as threatening. Raptors and other corvids are given short shrift as the hoodies work in tandem to see them off…..