Hey tweets,
Just to add my 2-cents worth in ...

Crows are great mimics. How do you suppose we can differentiate these 2 species (if they are) by call, when they are probably copying each others calls anyway?
I would EXPECT to hear indivduals giving both calls.

Behaviour and foraging tactics might be a better way of differntiating them (NW are supposed to be more inter-tidal foragers). But again, any American Crow is going to mimic a successful foraging technique as well.

Personally, if I come across a small crow foraging in the inter-tidal zone, I will at least consider that it could be a NW Crow (or at least have some genetics in common with one). And I count them as NW on my county lists.

However, I would be hard-pressed to justify it as a Lifer. Luckily, I have seen and heard NW Crow in BC and Alaska, so I am free-and-clear about them, anyway!

Clearly, a lot of genetic work needs to be done To answer the question if the 2 are interbreeding here in the Puget Sound. But given that our American Crows living here in the Northwest are small anyway, AND that they are probably copying each others calls and behaviours, being able to tell the American Crows from the NW Crow is a tough proposition in the field.

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com