The common raven, also known as the northern raven, is a large, all-black bird with a distinctively heavy bill and wedge-shaped tail. Although commonly referred to as simply the raven, there are several synonyms for this bird. In the scientific community, it is often called Corvus corax, the species name for this large and intelligent bird. Other synonyms for the common raven include the American raven, the common crow, and the grey raven. These synonyms highlight the bird's widespread distribution across North America and the world, as well as its close relationship to other members of the corvidae family, such as crows and jays.