Need help identifying ravens (1 Viewer)

[JJWiebbecke]

We live in Florida, South Central. According to my field guide, we’re not supposed to have ravens. BUT we have two HUGE specimens, a pair, frequent our yard looking for the raw peanuts I put out for the squirrels. They make sounds similar to a crow, but they seem much too large to be crows. Much, much larger than a pigeon, for instance. Never a flock, just this one pair.

Any help for me, or is this a lost cause?

 

[Sangahyando]

American Crows are significantly bigger than any pigeon species you are likely to see in the region, plus the habits and vocalisations you've described fit them better (Ravens have deeper and somewhat more melodic voices, and they are less likely to frequent urban or suburban areas). That said, it's hard to be certain without a picture.

 

[Butty]

Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

 

[tom baxter]

This thread has prompted me to an astounding (to me) realization, that any species of Raven would be a 1st state record for Florida according to Ebird. I never realized how rare they are outside of their home ranges.

 

[tom baxter]

There is not one recorded straggler for that entire empty space in their range. That’s pretty amazing in my opinion. They are expanding their range in some places, but it seems that it is happening in a creeping fashion.

 

[JJWiebbecke]

American Crows are significantly bigger than any pigeon species you are likely to see in the region, plus the habits and vocalisations you've described fit them better (Ravens have deeper and somewhat more melodic voices, and they are less likely to frequent urban or suburban areas). That said, it's hard to be certain without a picture.

Good information, thanks. Do crows eat raw peanuts? I will attempt to get a photo of these magnificent birds. I’m not finished with my quest, lol. I have only seen one raven in my entire life and that was in Utah. We became great friends that day.

 

[BAL Land]

Good information, thanks. Do crows eat raw peanuts? I will attempt to get a photo of these magnificent birds. I’m not finished with my quest, lol. I have only seen one raven in my entire life and that was in Utah. We became great friends that day.

Yes, crows are known to eat peanuts.

 

[JJWiebbecke]

Thank you so much. I’m still striving to nail these beautiful birds.