SW Florida - odd crow-ish bird (1 Viewer)

[Fandango739]

Seen yesterday in the company of Fish Crow and Boat-tailed Grackle. Perhaps slightly larger than the grackles, but much smaller than the Fish Crows. The tail seemed boxy like the crows, not wedge-ish like the grackles. Note the grey ring around the neck.

My first thought was that it was a juvenal crow with ruff fluff around the neck, but the noticed that the area was actually smooth - so full feathers.
My next thought is this might be a House Crow hybrid from the one crow, about a hundred miles north of here. But the bird was so small - tiny for a crow, so I have a hard time believing that this bird is from two parent crows.

So, what do you think?

Thanks!

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Here in the U.K. I frequently see juvenile crows with poorly developed or missing feathers, or indeed white feathers. By the time they moult, the replacements are normal. The explanation I have heard is that it is the result of a dietary deficiency while in the nest. Your photos are certainly of crows (American or Fish; not easy photographically at the best of times), and seem to have a similar problem.