Ravens are a large black birds associated through history with mischief, darkness, and melancholia and are common throughout the old world and the new. The Raven is a bird who is surrounded by myth and legend. He is a magical bird who is fabled to have created the world. He is known as the trickster and as the creator. He is proven by scientist to be the smartest of the song-birds. Able to imitate other animals, the sound of the wind, and human speech.
Ravens are large black birds, with a blue-purple iridescence to their feathers. They are approximately 24-27 inches long at maturity, and their wingspan doubles that. The beak and feet are black, and the iris of the eye is brown. Young birds are less glossy than adults, but they lose the dullness when they reach maturity.
Sometimes Ravens are confused with crows, but they differ in many ways. A raven's beak is larger and heavier than that of a crow. Their throat feathers are more pointed and elongated. Crows' throat feathers, are rounded, like a semi-circular. The Raven's caw is much deeper than the crow's. Also, a raven's call is more varied than the repetitive cawing of a crow.
Hugin and Munin are the two ravens of the most high god Odin. They fly all over the world and tell Odin about what they have seen and heard. Hugin thinks. Munin remembers.The names Hugin and Munin come from the words for thought and memory in Norse Mythology. Hugin and Munin are scouts for the most high god Odin. They fly all over the world and ask questions to both the living and the dead and return with news for Odin.
From the Prose Eddas
The Whole Earth Over, everyday,
hover Hugin and Munin;
I dread Lest Hugin, drop in his flight,
Yet I fear me still more for Munin.
The lay of Grimnir:20
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