Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fish crow vs American crow ID by merlin

[anneb . clark]

Hi Kevin I think I see why Merlin was back n forth.  I think your audio is of a demanding American crow fledgling whose nasal begs come close to the slightly down slurred and nasal ‘simple version’ fish crow. If you listen toward the end of the recording , you can hear a quickening of the notes and a slightly ‘gobbling’ sound. That is the fledgling continuing to beg as it is getting fed—beg calls with a parental bill in its mouth and swallowing at the same time.   Lots of American Crow fledglings out or just coming out now.  I assume that the comment on fish in the pond was a bit of levity?  Maybe it is worth mentioning that Fish Crows don’t ‘fish’ Or particularly seek fish as far as I know. But they do seem to like shoreline or river edge scavenging, rather than foraging on lawns like American crows. And also, less popular with humans, they seem to be good at finding bird nests in trees.  Anyway—that’s my Id of the crow voice on your audio.  Best, Anne Sent from my iPhone On Jul 1, 2023, at 7:39 PM, Kevin C Packard <kc...@cornell.edu> wrote:  Hi everyone,  I was birding at Jennings Pond in Danby the other day and found a group of crows in trees by the pond which the Merlin app was giving as both fish crow and American crow.  How reliable do you all feel about distinguishing these two species using Merlin? I made some recordings that includes the cawing from what Merlin was saying as fish and American crow, but I've thought that here in Tompkins County that you will see fish crows primarily by Cayuga Lake. Jennings Pond is at 1,250 ft elevation, but it is one of the larger ponds in the county and has plenty of fish.  The eBird list (giving only American crow) is at https://ebird.org/checklist/S143150602  Thoughts are welcome!  Kevin Kevin C Packard 166 Surge B Department of Social Statistics, ILR School Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 607-255-8212 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --