Corvidae
/ˈkɔːr.vɪ.diː/noun
A biological family of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies, and jays.
Did you know?Corvidae is a scientific Latin family name built from Latin corvus, “raven,” so the group’s official name is basically a taxonomic monument to one of humanity’s oldest omen birds.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
corvus
“raven; crow”
Late Latin
Latin
corvida
“a raven-like bird, or a form built on corvus”
19th Century
New Latin
Corvidae
“the taxonomic family name for ravens, crows, jays, and relatives”
Modern English
English
Corvidae
“the bird family containing crows, ravens, magpies, and jays”