What Kind of Crow is This?

Friday February 7th

House Crow x Fish Crow hybrid seen at Lovers Key in December 2018

Had posted this photo on iNaturalist.com as an example of a Fish Crow.  The photo was taken December 14, 2018 at the Lovers Key State Park parking area next to New Pass, without taking a real go look at pic.  Fish Crows are the predominate crow species at the beach. I have, as well as other birders, been reporting on hearing an American crow calling in this area on occasions.  I now believe that the calls were coming from this bird.

House Crow seen at Nokomis Beach in May 2018

Reviewers had disagreed that this picture was of a Fish Crow just by the heavy bill.  There was some initial speculation that it was an exotic species, like a Cuban Crow.  But we've now decided that it is fact a hybrid of a House Crow and a Fish Crow. Based on the calls, the bill and faint gray coloration draping the back, neck and breast.

Fish Crow seen at Nokomis Beach May 2018

A very tiny population of House Crows have been living up at Nokomis Beach.  With speculation that they have been nesting with Fish Crows So a hybrid being seen and heard is a real possibility. 

House Crow Facts

Looking for Interesting Birds

Sunday May 6th

Last Thursday I traveled around Sarasota County in search of a few interesting birds.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly seen at Pinecraft Park

The recent reporting of a House Crow at Nokomis Beach was intriguing.   I had been aware of reports from years ago of a pair of House Crows that were living at Nokomis Beach. This is an exotic species from South Asia that has been spreading out globally, some believe with the ability to stow away on freighters to visit new territories.

House Crow seen at Nokomis Beach

Easily located the House Crow when I arrived at the park about 7:45 am.

Moved onto Pinecraft Park ,which can be a very active migration magnet, where I

encountered several American Redstarts, Northern Parulas and Blackpool Warblers. Other encounters included Cape May Warblers, a  Worm eating Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Chimney Swifts, Nanday Parakeets, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-and-White Warblers, an Ovenbird  A Common Yellowthroat, Purple Martins and Tufted

Titmice.

Then over to The Celery Fields. When I arrived the Purple Martin Houses were being opened to check on the nests. Lots of babies. Out on the marsh Stilt Sandpipers and least Sandpipers were present on the exposed mud.

A Purple Gallinule was actively feeding along with Common Gallinules. A Least Tern dipped the water and an assortment of waders were present. Limpkins were also active, a Bobwhite could be heard and an Eastern Kingbird was hawking for its lunch.

An Eastern Kingbird

Gallery of Pics from the Purple Martin Houses 

One last stop was to look for the Tropical Kingbird that has, once again, returned to St Armonds Circle. The location was busy with traffic and shoppers, and then I found the parking lot that the bird has called home is now under construction. I guess they're building a parking garage.

Gray Kingbird

The tropical kingbird is around, but I didn't see today. Just Gray Kingbirds and Eurasian Collared Doves.



Ended the trip with a count of sixty birds seen today in Sarasota County.