I don't know if this is something worth reporting in the Field Notes, but I
noticed a couple weeks ago that there is a NORTHWESTERN CROW in my
neighborhood near Alki Point in West Seattle which has an upper mandible
which extends out and curves downward, similar to a thrasher. In looking at
my field guides it would look most like that of a Crissal Thrasher, only
with a tighter curve -- but it is only the upper mandible which is curved.
The bottom one seems normal. The curve is perfectly shaped, and the end
looks needle sharp. I've seen this crow successfully feeding a big fat
juvenile, as well, but the juvenile's beak is shaped normally. It turns its
head when it presents food to the juvenile, and gives it the food from the
side of its beak, so that the curved point is out of the way. I've seen
this crow several times now over the past couple weeks. (I'm pretty sure it
is the same one, and that there's only one around with this abnormality --
but I'm certainly paying more attention to the neighborhood crows now.) I'm
pretty sure it's a Northwestern Crow just because I'm close to the beach and
all the neighborhood crows go down to feed on the beach when the tide is out
(when they're not dumpster-diving behind the local pizza place).

Andrea Grad
Alki
agrad at helsell.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Rogers [mailto:rrogers at halcyon.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 10:08 AM
To: Tweeters
Subject: Summer Field Notes


Hi Tweeters,

It is time to send in your summer observations for seasonal reports in
Washington Field Notes and North Ameircan Birds. If you have anything
that you would like to report from June and July, please send them to
me. The deadline for reporting is August 15.

Thanks,

Russell

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell Rogers
6637 Glenwood Drive SW
Olympia WA 98512
(360) 709-9870
mailto:rrogers at halcyon.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------