For many of us here in the Pacific Northwest, the matter was settle by
David Johnston in _the Biosystematics of American Crows_ (1961).
Northwestern Crow is probably not a legitimate species (I expect a
firestorm of flamage from over protective listers who can abide the
thought of a lost tick).

But, if we assume that Northwestern Crow does exist, there are NO RELIABLE
FIELD MARKS for sorting them from "Western" Crow (_Corvis brachyrhynchos
hesperis_). This is especially true at this time of year when many young
hesperis-type crows are out and about. Size will not get you there. Call
will not get you there. Jizzy things like flight and "beach foraging
behaviors" won't get you there.

Your choices are three:
1. Go to coastal Alaska or northern BC and tick one based on
unequivical geography.
2. Catch one and measure its tarsus
a. > 50mm probably American Crow
b. < 50mm probably "Northwestern" Crow
3. Find more interesting birds to identify

>
>Hi Tweeters,
> I would appreciate your imput on the differences between Northwestern
>and American Crows and their status here in the Puget Sound. I find it
>difficult to know if I am identifying them correctly. Also do they
>hybridize? An out of town person asked me about them thinking that most
>of our crows here in the Puget Sound area should be Northwesterns.
>
> Thanks for all of your help.
>
>Yvonne Bombardier
>Everett, Wa
>ravenn at premier1.net
>
>

--
********************************* I am but mad north-north-west;
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * when the wind is southerly,
* mpatters at orednet.org * I know a hawk froma handsaw.
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters -ws