This post is being made with the approval of Mark Cranford, Ontbirds coordinator: Today I contacted crow expert researcher Dr. Kevin McGowan at Cornell University with a complete description of our putative Fish Crow observation during Sunday's Wiarton CBC, which I reported on Ontbirds. Kevin kindly responded right away, with the concluding statement: "With a pair of species as similar as American and Fish crows, I wouldn’t trust any identification except by sound (preferably recorded) or definitive photos of the wing formula." A great discussion, including the “wing formula”, can be found at the Cornell site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm I think there just isn't enough evidence to support our initial conclusion of the bird being a Fish Crow, despite the great size difference between the two crows in the elm tree, the hook-tipped bill (which initially from 200m away and at a poor angle, had me thinking "shrike"), and the short rattle call. My apologies to anyone who may have been inconvenienced. Thanks for the input from others, and thanks to the follow-up searchers. Happy Holidays to all! Jarmo _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
