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A hoarse cry echoes across the sky, tracing chills down your spine: Caw! Caw! Caw! Eerily enough, a large group of crows is sometimes called a \u201cmurder.\u201d However, there\u2019s nothing truly scary about this wonderful species. Crows are very intelligent, family-oriented birds that are rarely seen alone. This all-black bird (even the insides of its mouth are black) could easily sneak up on you in the pitch-dark night\u2026 but alas, they are diurnal! While they do often eat meat, their diet is broad and consists of whatever they can forage: insects, eggs, berries, seeds, even garbage! Learn more about this fascinating species (and hear their raucous calls) at All About Birds<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuoth the raven, `Nevermore.\u2019\u201d This bird is the bringer of devils and death in The Raven<\/em> by Edgar Allen Poe. It\u2019s no surprise the bird said, \u201cnevermore\u201d as ravens are notorious mimickers, known even to copy human speech! They are incredibly smart: solving puzzles and using tools for foraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to their intellect and fondness for carrion, mythology hails them as otherworldly harbingers of war and death! One term for a group of Common Ravens is an \u201cunkindness.\u201d With black feathers, ebony eyes and a beak capable of tearing open animal flesh, the Common Raven is indeed an intimidating creature. Add in its throaty cr-r-ruck cry, and the Common Raven adopts a supernatural eeriness perfect for Halloween.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Common Raven ranges over most of western and northern North America. Will you see them where you live? Find out here<\/strong><\/a>. Though the Common Raven may look similar to the American Crow at first, here<\/strong><\/a> are some tips to see the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silent but deadly nocturnal hunters: owls have been associated with magic, evil, and death for thousands of years. The American Barn Owl is a trifecta of spookiness: unearthly hoots and hisses, a tendency to roost in abandoned attics, and a ghostly white face! This bird\u2019s soft feathers allow for quiet ambush on any unsuspecting prey, especially their favorite feast: mice and voles. Also, there\u2019s no escape, Barn Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica. This species could surely give trick-or-treaters a fright that they won\u2019t hear coming! Find out more about this ghostly bird here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vultures have long been scorned and sometimes feared as scavengers that feed on the dead. Indeed, they have an unnerving knack for rapidly amassing at the site of a carcass. In ancient Greece, the birds were considered bad luck, and according to Persian lore, a pair of vultures guard the gates of Hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large, dark, and hulking, the turkey vulture has a huge 6-foot wingspan and distinctive bald red head (the bare head keeps the birds from getting soiled when eating carrion). Turkey Vultures can be seen soaring alone or in groups, holding their wings in a V-shape and rocking back and forth. They use their excellent sense of smell to detect rotting flesh (their next meal), so Halloween zombies beware. Sniff out more info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a hooked beak, pitch dark eyes, and formidable 7-foot wingspan, you wouldn\u2019t want to run into the Harpy Eagle when it\u2019s hungry. The Harpy Eagle is considered the most formidable eagle in the world, regularly feeding on monkeys and sloths. Its menacing talons are comparable to the Grizzly Bear\u2019s claws. Harpy Eagles are found in the rainforests of Central and South America, and, fortunately for us, they prefer to avoid humans. Interested in learning more? See more photos and videos and hear its squealy call here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chances are you\u2019ve never seen one, and without a keen eye, never will. This camouflaged, neo-tropic bird is recognized best for its nighttime growl, \u201cpaaaaaawwww!\u201d (Listen here<\/strong><\/a>). Great Potoos remain motionless during the day, mimicking the tree branches to escape predators. With nightfall, they come alive to devour insects and small bats. Unless you visit the rainforests of Central and South America, where Great Potoos are native, you don\u2019t have to worry about any trees suddenly springing to life in a flurry of feathers. For more photos, videos, and sounds click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHahahaha,\u201d it\u2019s the Laughing Kookaburra! These large, Australian kingfishers aren\u2019t just fishers, they eat frogs, rodents, and even snakes. The crepuscular cry of the Laughing Kookaburra has fascinated humans for its similarity to human hysterics. Though the chances you\u2019ll see one this Halloween are slim, always remember who gets the last laugh. Check out this blog post<\/strong><\/a> on Kookaburras. Be sure to listen to their call<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This African stork feeds on every manner of putrid animal matter available, including carrion and garbage! With a five-foot figure, the \u201cundertaker bird\u201d is elegant, yet unsightly. Its splotchy, balding head allows it to dive into carcasses while staying clean, and the sagging pouch on its front is actually an attractive courtship tool. When the Marabou Stork isn\u2019t silent, it utters guttural grunts and rattles its bill (listen here<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because you’re bigger than a Golden Eagle, doesn’t mean he won’t pick a fight. The Golden Eagle primarily preys on animals that are smaller than them, such as rabbits, ground squirrels, and already dead mammals. But they have been observed killing bigger animals including deer, domestic livestock, seals, coyotes, bighorn sheep, bobcats, and badgers. Plus, they’ll rob nests and steal food from other birds. And they are quick…diving from great heights, they have been known to reach speeds of close to 200 mph! Learn more about the ferocious Golden Eagle here<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Common Raven<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Common-Raven-by-Bryan-Calk-ML394617871-1280x853.jpeg\")
American Barn Owl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Turkey Vulture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Turkey-Vulture-by-Matt-Mason-ML371206181-1280x825.jpeg\")
Harpy Eagle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harpy-Eagle-by-ML176730321-e1760986692558-1280x838.jpeg\")
Great Potoo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Potoo-by-Juan-Torres-Tavera-ML532490631-1280x1600.jpeg\")
Laughing Kookaburra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Marabou Stork<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Maribou-Storks-by-Sandy-and-Bob-Sipe-ML609719985-1280x853.jpeg\")
Golden Eagle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/k12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Golden-Eagle-by-Miguel-Rouco-ML210931331.jpeg\")