Greetings All:
Just got back from Austin and figured to throw my two cents in. While I
can't make the identification conclusively from these photographs the
length of the wings and extent of the fingering of the primaries (the way
the primaries spread from each other at the wing tips) is more consistent
with Common Raven than with Chihuahuan Raven (noted for their shorter and
more compact wings). Additionally, the bill seems to be in profile (this
is difficult to be sure of in the photograph) quite long and heavy for
almost its entire length - also consistent with Common Raven rather than
Chihuahuan Raven. The extent to which the tail is diamond shaped is,
according to the books, important but, as Jennifer noted, not particularly
useful in the field - I can't use this trait to pin the birds to either
species on the basis of these photographs.
I usually won't call Common Raven to species, atop the caprock escarpment,
unless I hear the call or I can get a clear impression of size but shape-
and proportions-wise these birds seem, to me, to be closer to Common Raven.
Anthony
On Sat, Mar 17, 2018 at 7:52 PM, Lena Zappia <lzappia@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Chihuahuan, that makes more sense. Thanks everyone! Glad I asked.
Jennifer, thank you for double checking.
Lena
------------------------------
*From:* leasbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <leasbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Floyd and Clarice Robertson <47robertson02@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Saturday, March 17, 2018 7:53 PM
*To:* leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [leasbirds] Re: Common Ravens at Mackenzie Park?
Jennifer,
You are likely correct about that. I, for one, jumped too quickly to the
conclusion of Common Raven.
In the 7th edition, 2001, of the Birds of the Texas South Plains checklist
published by LEAS, the Common Raven is not listed at all, while the
Chihuahuan Raven is listed as 'common' throughout the year..
In the 8th edition, 2006, again the Chihuahuan Raven is listed as 'common'
throughout the year.
The Common Raven is listed as 'casual' from Sep-Apr, 'rare' in May and
Aug, not listed at all during Jun-Jul.
The checklist was complied from considerable research by Anthony Hewetson,
Rich Kostecke, Cliff Stogner, and Brandon Best. No changes have happened
over the past dozen years to warrant a new update of the checklist. The
8th edition, 2006, is the current version.
It seems that siting of 4 Common Ravens would be unlikely.
Floyd Robertson
Lubbock TX
*----- Original Message -----*
*From:* Jennifer Miller <foundnatureblog@xxxxxxxxx>
*Reply-To:* <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*To:* <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* 3/17/2018 3:48:45 PM
*Subject:* [leasbirds] Re: Common Ravens at Mackenzie Park?
------------------------------
I feel like I am missing something here. I have only had limited
opportunity to study the two species in New Mexico and Arizona, but don't
both Common and Chihuahuan Ravens both have wedge-shaped tails? Size is
almost impossible to tell in pictures like this, too. According to ebird,
it looks like Chihuahuan Ravens are more likely here. Based on these
pictures, what makes these Common Ravens rather than Chihuahuan Ravens?
Thanks for any insight!
Jennifer
On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 9:46 PM, Lena Zappia <lzappia@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Can anyone verify that these are Common Ravens, or are the photos
undecipherable?
There were 4 flying over Mackenzie Park today. Big, flying high, soaring
quickly. Photos are heavily cropped, but pointy tails were visible through
binoculars.
Also seen at Mackenzie today (3/16/18):
4 Eastern Bluebirds
1 American Goldfinch
8 White-crowned Sparrows
22 Green-winged teals
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Ring-billed Gull
(plus lots of Mallards, Coots, a few Shovelers, numerous Juncos.)
Thanks!
Lena
--
Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
{o,o}
/)_)
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