Hi, Tweets,

Here's a link to an article from back when the last taxonomy update was expected in e-bird (August, 2020).

https://ebird.org/news/august-2020-ebird-taxonomy-update-postponed

Their definition of "early 2021" seems to have expanded. At this point, I look to August, when they'd usually update.

Here's a link to the article (lead author our local Dave S.) with the evidence for considering the crows one species.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.15377

I respect the honesty to admit difficulty distinguishing these two forms. Apparently not even the crows make the distinction in the field.

I'll join the parade of migrant _Zonotrichia_ reporters; yesterday in my urban Seattle yard, I had two White-crowned Sparrows and one Golden-crowned Sparrow, both less than annual visitors. Numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, but no Black-throated Gray yet.

19 April, 2021,

Alan Grenon
Seattle
panmail AT mailfence.com




Hi,

I wanted to clarify something about crows. I thought I heard that
Northwestern Crows and American Crows are being considered the same species
now? I was at Semiahmoo Spit a few days ago and when I was doing my ebird
checklist, it told me the American Crow was a rarity in the area. I
reported the crows as Northwestern Crows instead, but I honestly don't have
the skills to tell the difference.

I photographed one sitting on a branch with a Bald Eagle. Here is the link
to my flickr if anyone is interested:

https://flic.kr/ps/3T5Gg6

Thanks!

Molly
Seattle, WA