The first believed Corvid fossil is estimated at 17 million years old. The Corvidae family of birds includes crows, ravens, jay, magpies, rooks and others totaling in the neighborhood of 120 different varieties. They appear in nearly all climates, are not migratory and form strong and even lifelong partnerships. Both sexes are similar and remain involved in the parenting of their young. Corvids are omnivorous and will eat anything, up to and including carrion.

They are notoriously intelligent, with their young partaking in social games such as king of the mountain and other playful acts like sliding down surfaces or organizing and balancing natural artefact’s.  These are believed to increase their adaptability and survival instinct. Courtship involves a series of trials before a mate is selected, and as stated that decision is not one taken lightly.

The ability of corvids to find food in the wild has been determined to be the among the most innovative in the animal kingdom. Their body to brain ration is equal to the great apes and only slightly less than that of humans. They have demonstrated both imagination and episodic memory and some species have been found to actually create and use tools in the form of “fishing line,” small hooks etc. to get at hard to reach areas.

In addition to these admirable real world traits the place of corvids in myth and symbolism is universal, and their presence always notable. They are most frequently messengers and seers but also creators, destroyers and tricksters depending on what source you look to. It is this portrait that makes the corvidae family of note and a spirit that is worth paying homage to.