NJ, USA: Raven? (1 Viewer)

[JohnJos]

Folks, I took this photo in September 2009 at Cape May, NJ. I've always assumed it was an American Crow. But I posted this recently to my website and now I'm having second thoughts. I've looked at all of my guides as well as BNA Online and I'm thinking it's a Raven. Please provide your thoughts. Thanks, John

 

[etudiant]

Looks like a Raven to me.
Very heavy bill, shaggy throat.
Cannot see tail shape, which would clinch it.

 

[KorHaan]

I think it's a Crow; a Raven would show feathering on the upper mandible reaching further out, to over half of the upper bill. The tail looks straight, not wedge-shaped to me. The left outermost rectrix looks as long as the other rectrices.

Best regards,

Ronald

 

[MichavdB]

I think it's a Crow; a Raven would show feathering on the upper mandible reaching further out, to over half of the upper bill. The tail looks straight, not wedge-shaped to me. The left outermost rectrix looks as long as the other rectrices.

Best regards,

Ronald

I agree. The bird also seems small in relation to the pole it's sitting on.

 

[JohnJos]

Thanks folks. I'm tending to agree. I guess I was trying to see something that wasn't there. I had relooked at my guides after I posted and also came up with Crow for many of the same reasons you've posted: size, tail, bill.. I also looked at my other photos of this bird and don't see any conclusive evidence that this is a Raven. Thanks for your help.
John

 

[MichavdB]

Thanks folks. I'm tending to agree. I guess I was trying to see something that wasn't there. I had relooked at my guides after I posted and also came up with Crow for many of the same reasons you've posted: size, tail, bill.. I also looked at my other photos of this bird and don't see any conclusive evidence that this is a Raven. Thanks for your help.
John

John, You'll know it's a Raven when you see one!

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

John, You'll know it's a Raven when you see one!

He's right. When you go "Oh my God, that's huge!" it'll be a raven.

 

[JohnJos]

Thanks guys. This was not the case so crow it is.

 

[Sinaloa]

I have to say this is a great pic. The crow should be flattered.

 

[Shadow-watcher]

Like many young birders I began my interest in BoP, and Im lucky to live on an RSB reserve where we have many. We also have many corvids, and since seeing ravens for the first time 4 years ago I have come to see tham as truly the dominant birds in the sky, we have a local pair and they own the mountain. When I look at them now i think 'BoP' before 'crow'.

This is a great picture of a crow, and shows just how similar the two species are. Without a raven for scale the mistakes are so easily made. As others have said, when you see a raven you instantly know, they are some of my favorite birds.