Chihuahuan Raven
Chihuahuan Raven has risen sharply: up 57% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the Chihuahuan Raven
The Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus) is a North American member of the Crows, Jays & Magpies (Corvidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the generalists.
- Size
- 10–27.5 in long (25–70 cm) — a medium to large songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- A broad range of open and wooded habitats, often near people.
- Diet
- An opportunistic mix of insects, seeds, fruit and scraps.
- Range
- Recorded on 200 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 6 states, most concentrated in the Shortgrass Prairie.
- Family
- Corvidae · Generalists
Notable Chihuahuan Raven Trends
Chihuahuan Raven has risen sharply in surveyed states: up 57% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
Chihuahuan Raven Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Chihuahuan Raven is projected to rise about 49% by 2029 — from 0.18 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.28 (95% range 0.15–0.40). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±25.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.27 | 0.14 | 0.39 |
| 2026 | 0.27 | 0.15 | 0.40 |
| 2027 | 0.27 | 0.15 | 0.40 |
| 2028 | 0.27 | 0.15 | 0.40 |
| 2029 | 0.28 | 0.15 | 0.40 |
Where the Chihuahuan Raven Is Detected
BBS routes recording Chihuahuan Raven, sized by most recent count.
Chihuahuan Raven Population Trend by State
| Arizona | -78% | 1970 | 17 |
| Colorado | +285% | 1974 | 20 |
| Kansas | insufficient data | n/a | 2 |
| New Mexico | +39% | 1970 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | 12× | 1972 | 7 |
| Texas | -39% | 1969 | 104 |
Chihuahuan Raven Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau | -44% | 1981 | 12 |
| Shortgrass Prairie | +10% | 1970 | 69 |
| Central Mixed Grass Prairie | +208% | 1974 | 20 |
| Edwards Plateau | -59% | 1975 | 5 |
| Oaks and Prairies | -54% | 1971 | 6 |
| Sierra Madre Occidental | -85% | 1970 | 14 |
| Chihuahuan Desert | +121% | 1969 | 47 |
| Tamaulipan Brushlands | -90% | 1969 | 20 |
Chihuahuan Raven Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 57% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.