Interesting! Thanks, Anthony.
Jennifer
Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
{o,o}
/)_)
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Email: FoundNatureBlog@xxxxxxxxx
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On Mar 19, 2018, at 9:29 AM, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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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