Larry,
Belated thanks for your replies and for all the interesting comments it
generated. I doubt I will ever know a Fish Crow from an American unless I
was surrounded by them every day! I checked Sibley's but the differences are
just too subtle. Fortunately, all crows tend to make a lot of noise. I
remember seeing and hearing dozens of them in trees near Siesta Keys beach
in Florida years ago. I think they were the first I had ever encountered and
I was proud of myself for being able to identify them. I knew they tended to
live near the water so have been really surprised to find them in the
mountains and in parking lots of all places.
Nancy Young
Troutville, VA
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Cartwright
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 10:14 PM
To: kurtcapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx ; nanjyoung@xxxxxxxx
Cc: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [va-bird] Re: Fish Crow in pursuit of Common Raven in Annandale
Yes, he discusses the swept-back wingtips of the Fish Crow and its smaller
head and longer tail in relationship to its American counterpart.
It would be a good question. How reliable do people find these field marks
in a flying Fish Crow? I must admit I don't always get it right and only
feel 100 per cent positive when they vocalize.
Check it out for yourself Nancy. Sibley refers to these Fish Crow field
marks in both editions of his field guide.
Larry Cartwright
Compiler, Huntley Meadows Eastern Bluebird Nest Box Program
Compiler, Dyke Marsh Breeding Bird Survey
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
6722 Fern Lane
Annandale, Va. 22003
(Landline) 703-941-3142
(Cell) 571-359-2395
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Redacted sender "kurtcapt87" for DMARC
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 3:25 PM
To: prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx; nanjyoung@xxxxxxxx
Cc: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
All,
Sibley describes identifying a (silent) flying Fish Crow.
Kurt Gaskill
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Larry Cartwright (Redacted sender "prowarbler" for DMARC)
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 3:05 PM
To: nanjyoung@xxxxxxxx
Cc: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
No, not in the air, Nancy. Differences in size and tail shape separated the
Raven from the crow and vocalization of the crow told me it was Fish.
Larry Cartwright
Compiler, Huntley Meadows Eastern Bluebird Nest Box Program Compiler, Dyke
Marsh Breeding Bird Survey prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
6722 Fern Lane
Annandale, Va. 22003
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of nanjyoung@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 2:07 PM
Subject: [va-bird] Re: Fish Crow in pursuit of Common Raven in Annandale
Hi Larry,
Would you have known it was a Fish Crow if it had been silent? I have
seen/heard a few around here. Several times in the Walmart parking lot (up
on a light pole). I only know them by their voices. But then after hearing
them I do notice the smaller size.
The strong silent raven wasn't too concerned about his little cousin!
Thanks for sharing!
Nancy Young
Troutville, VA
nanjyoung@xxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Cartwright (Redacted sender "prowarbler" for DMARC)
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 1:09 PM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [va-bird] Fish Crow in pursuit of Common Raven in Annandale
A Fish Crow in pursuit of a Common Raven just flew over our house in Sleepy
Hollow Woods in Annandale. The contrast in size and shape between the two
Corvids was noticeable, with the much larger Raven with a wedge-shaped tail
being chased by its smaller relative. The Fish Crow vocalized while the
Raven remained silent. Larry Cartwrightprowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
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