Re: Fish and American Crows

Jim Felley (IRMSS668@SIVM.SI.EDU)
Tue, 12 Jan 99 13:12:39 EST


A little detail to add to my longish post yesterday.  It was
mentioned (by someone whose email I just erased!) that they
have heard American Crows 'mimicking' Fish Crows in late Winter
and early Spring.
   I have heard this too, and I interpret this to be mated pairs
displaying/courting, with one giving the juvenile 'begging' call.
In this instance, I usually will hear one or both individuals
intersperse the begging call with harsher 'car' or 'cra' calls.
They also bill rattle a lot at such times.  Perhaps that is
a crow love song.
   I have heard Fish Crow groups (families?) near my house in
Gaithersburg in the Fall, and I have heard Fish-Crow-sounding
birds at the big White Flint Mall roost.  I agree that in the DC
area both species may be expected almost anywhere.

                            Jim

                            Jim Felley
                            Smithsonian Institution
                            irmss668@sivm.si.edu