Concise Bible Dictionary:
Hooded Crow in Israel (Corvus Cornix)
The word oreb, from a root signifying “to be black,” appears to be used not only for the common raven, but for birds of the same genus (corvus), as the crow, the rook, etc., for we read of “every raven after his kind” as being unclean (Lev. 11:1515Every raven after his kind; (Leviticus 11:15); Deut. 14:1414And every raven after his kind, (Deuteronomy 14:14)). The raven, when sent from the ark by Noah, could doubtless find food (though the dove could not), because it can feed upon carrion, though it went “to and fro” till the waters were dried up (Gen. 8:77And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. (Genesis 8:7)). That the carnivorous ravens should bring flesh as well as bread to Elijah shows God’s miraculous power; He caused them to feed His servant (1 Kings 17:4, 64And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. (1 Kings 17:4)
6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. (1 Kings 17:6)). They are greedy eaters, and have no storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them, and will surely feed those who trust in Him (Job 38:4141Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat. (Job 38:41); Psa. 147:99He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (Psalm 147:9); Prov. 30:1717The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. (Proverbs 30:17); Song of Sol. 5:1111His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (Song of Solomon 5:11); Isa. 34:1111But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (Isaiah 34:11); Luke 12:2424Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (Luke 12:24)). There are several species of the raven in Palestine: it belongs to the order Insessores, family Corvidæ.
Jackdaw – Corvus Monedula
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
or mowreb {o-rabe'}; from 6150; a raven (from its dusky hue)