I’m new but I finally got a video of the strange crow call, please help. (1 Viewer)

[Mrsbarber]

Hi, I hope I’m in the correct place... for months I have been hearing this strange bird call outside, I finally saw with my own eyes that it was a crow. I am almost 80% sure it’s the same crow each time I hear this call. I tried to research crow sounds and could not find anything like it. It took me a few months to get him/her to let me record it, after all I am extremely new at this, but now that I have it I am hoping someone can please tell me if this is a normal call, actually any information or guidance would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance,
Melody Barber

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello. Please join in wherever you like

I'm going to move your thread to the Bird I D section of the Forum and you will be notified when someone offers some suggestions

 

[nartreb]

Crows can make a lot of unusual sounds. The most common is the "caw caw" heard on the first half of one of your recordings, but individual crows will sometimes make sounds like cell phones, other birds, or just something idiosyncratic. It's entirely possible that the bird you've been hearing is always the same individual, but it might not be. Crows sometimes learn new sounds from each other.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum! I am sure you will find lots to interest you here and I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[Mrsbarber]

Crows can make a lot of unusual sounds. The most common is the "caw caw" heard on the first half of one of your recordings, but individual crows will sometimes make sounds like cell phones, other birds, or just something idiosyncratic. It's entirely possible that the bird you've been hearing is always the same individual, but it might not be. Crows sometimes learn new sounds from each other.

I have been watching a particular group of crows that I believe frequent this area that is why I suspect it is the same crow making that noise and I have sat and watched him numerous times but I never hear him/her make the “caw caw” sound like the others, it’s always that funny sound you can kinda hear in the back ground ( each video should have the sound at least once) and it always seems to be in reply to the other birds caws... this is obviously me guessing. Ha ha!

 

[Mrsbarber]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello. Please join in wherever you like

I'm going to move your thread to the Bird I D section of the Forum and you will be notified when someone offers some suggestions

Thank you for your help. I am positive it’s the crow making the odd “call”, just not sure if that’s normal or some sort of mating call or what... I really appreciate being able to finally get some input from people like you who are much more knowledgeable than I, it’s been driving me crazy for months!!😁

 

[AlexC]

Corvids (like the American Crow seen and multiple heard in your videos) are known mimics and can make a variety of interesting sounds. If you're in Temecula, more often you'll hear wacky weird noises from Common Ravens, but possible for crows to make some as well.

 

[Mrsbarber]

Figuring out the difference between crows and ravens was my first step on this bird brained adventure. 😀 we have a row of pine trees behind us, they frequent them a lot and then I watch how they fly (and maybe) protect other groups of trees, I think it’s amazing how they tag team a hawk or other unwanted visitor or how they call to each other when I have left treats out for them. I have had fun watching and learning about them and just thought that call was so different from anything I could find. Is it just in their nature to be so... nervous/careful? I mean, they will look around forever before they come down for peanuts or bread? I don’t know that I have seen a raven, but then again I’m still learning to tell the difference. Would Ravens be around at the same time the crows are?

 

[Mrsbarber]

Btw, thank you all for helping me and sharing your knowledge!! I have wanted to ask some of these questions for a long time now!!❤️😀

 

[AlexC]

In SoCal, yes we have both Common Ravens and American Crows coexisting quite often. Some habitats cater more to one than the other, but I regularly see both species simultaneously.

Key features to differentiate: vocalizations (ravens croak more than caw), tail shape (ravens have a longer, wedge/diamond shaped tail, crows are more squared off and shorter), wing size/flight behavior (ravens with larger wings have a deeper, stronger flap and also do all kinds of crazy aerial acrobatics; crows much more controled and consistent with smaller lighter flaps), beak size (raven larger, with significant feathering extended along the beak; also shaggy throat feathers), and also - general size (ravens larger - though worth noting, size can be difficult to judge without a relative context. "Impression" of size can often be misleading, unless you're seeing the two species side by side).

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Hi MrsBarber and welcome to BirdForum. We have Ravens and Carrion Crows around here. Can’t remember seeing a Rook though.

Rich

 

[Mrsbarber]

Hi MrsBarber and welcome to BirdForum. We have Ravens and Carrion Crows around here. Can’t remember seeing a Rook though.

Rich

Hhmmmm A Rook? Something new for me to look up!!😀

Now that I know the two could be together I’m going to have to pay more attention to specifics!🤔

you guys are awesome, Thank you so much!!!

 

[Mrsbarber]

Hhmmmm A Rook? Something new for me to look up!!😀

Now that I know the two could be together I’m going to have to pay more attention to specifics!🤔

you guys are awesome, Thank you so much!!!

Hhmmmm A Rook? Something new for me to look up!!😀

Now that I know the two could be together I’m going to have to pay more attention to specifics!🤔

you guys are awesome, Thank you so much!!!

Nope, no Rooks!!😉

 

[AlexC]

Hhmmmm A Rook? Something new for me to look up!!😀

Now that I know the two could be together I’m going to have to pay more attention to specifics!🤔

you guys are awesome, Thank you so much!!!

Best to go to Europe for Rooks - not a North American species, but a great bird nonetheless.

 

[Mrsbarber]

Best to go to Europe for Rooks - not a North American species, but a great bird nonetheless.

I’ll have to just be happy with my funky sounding crow!!!😉

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

I’ll have to just be happy with my funky sounding crow!!!😉

Sorry Mrs B. I missed what side of the pond you’re from.

Rich

 

[Mrsbarber]

Sorry Mrs B. I missed what side of the pond you’re from.

Rich

I’m in Temecula, California (southern Cali)