Subject: [Tweeters] NW vs AM Crow - Mimics
Date: Jan 1 16:57:14 2010
From: Bob Norton - norton36 at olypen.com


I agree but I will not count them in Washington since people who catch them
and measure them can not find any.
Bob Norton
norton36 at olypen.com
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Guy McWethy" <lguy_mcw at yahoo.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] NW vs AM Crow - Mimics


> 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
>
>
>
>
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