Common Raven

I was outside speaking to a neighbor near her house.  In mid-sentence, Trudy looked up and said, "Look at that bird!" 

I swung around to see this huge black bird perched on the edge of the house about 40 yards from us.  By the time I turned on the camera and removed the lens cap, it had started to take flight.  I was disappointed that I had turned off continuous shooting (and that I had to use my 55 mm lens)  but I did get this solitary shot.

This isn't a bird that's common for me so it took a couple of minutes to identify. It wasn't a very difficult process, though, because of it's enormous size, from 22"-27" (56-69 cm). The Common Raven is considered by some to be the smartest of all birds.  Maybe that's why Poe chose it...

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!