At this time of year, the allopreening duo of crows are more likely to be an offspring and a parent. Starting about March the breeding pair allopreen at an elevated rate. But, through the fall and winter, it's usually a kid and its mom.
The bases of the body feathers of nearly all birds are not the color of the tips. Chickadees can show dark areas when their light body feathers part. American Crows and Common Ravens have light gray bases to their body feathers. They can show at any time, but especially on windy days. The Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus, or crow with hidden white) used to be called the White-necked Raven because the bases of its body feathers are white. It's not only the bases to the neck feathers that are white; all the body feathers are that way. It's just that it's easier to see white on the neck. Kevin -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Susan Fast Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 7:53 AM To: 'Anne Clark'; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks I have 3 yard crows this winter. For the past week two of them have been perching side-by-side quite often, one solicits preening by exposing the nape or the throat, and the other preens it. I have assumed this is the mated pair. The third crow mostly hangs off to the side in another tree. I have assumed this to be a juvenile of most likely the past breeding season. I have a question. This third crow once cawed outside the window, facing me, and I observed that the bases of the throat feathers were light-colored; looked white. Sibley shows the bases of the neck feathers of juvenile ravens to be either white or gray, but implies that this coloring occurs only during June thru August. Are crows different in this respect, or am I missing something obvious (as usual)? Steve Fast -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Anne Clark Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 2:03 PM To: Cayuga Bird Club listserv Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks 1300h There were about 10 horned larks (all adults except one immature) foraging in newly manured field, W of the driveway into the Compost Facility and N of the Pheasant pens. Just to be complete--also present in the Compost Facility area (mounds, manured field, Dodge x Stevenson Rd) were 2-300 American crows, 2 Turkey Vultures (last seen monitoring an immature Redtailed Hawk that had just killed a pheasant in the pens), Ring billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, a few Great Black-backed Gulls, many more Red-tailed hawks (12-15?), 1 Cooper's hawk, starlings and a very dependable large flock of House Sparrows in the hedges along the drive. No unusual gulls noted. One interesting American crow interaction: an adult was preening a second crow (ragged tailed--unsure of age) when a third came in directly to the preener. This one marched back and forth, pausing and bowing its head (invite preen) at various angles to the preener, who was now just standing quietly. Then a fourth came in, paused, looked at the others and made its way to the head end of the preener; it too held a slightly head-down position and looked like it was in the act of solicitation when something brought a bunch of crows up including the much-sought preener. All unbanded...I can only make up stories. But the event resembled some we have seen in spring, when young birds try to insert themselves into parental allo-preening. Anne -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3658/6932 - Release Date: 12/18/13 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
