The Odd Couple (1 Viewer)

[Scozmos]

I've been going up to Ardersier for a few years now and most mornings I'm up and away along the shore with a camera, see what there is to be seen. I've quite often seen a lone Hooded Crow on the shoreline picking around but, it's very wary and usually flies off when I get closer or, it's too dull for any decent shots with the long lens. However, this July I was up, wandering along the shoreline around the Fort as is my want of a bright morning, when I spotted the Hooded Crow up ahead, standing on one of the many old posts along the shore. Nothing unusual there, apart from the fact that it was good light and the bird stayed in place for me to get a shot or three. Then ........ it was joined by a Carrion Crow (tbc?) and they definitely behaved like a pair.
Now, I'm no expert in very much at all but, if this is what I saw, how unusual is it?
Love to hear your thoughts on this, I'm off up again this weekend, maybe see and capture more.
Cheers a'

 

[delia todd]

I'm hoping for someone to confirm this but it's my belief that there are very few (if any) pure Hoodies on the east side of Scotland. They've cross-bred with Carrion Crow.

I saw a Carrion Crow feeding a fledgling Hoodie on Black Isle many years ago.

I think I need to get past Aberfeldy before Hoodies begin to take over from Carrions.

 

[Stonefaction]

I think it is relatively common where the two populations overlap resulting in birds that look superficially like Hooded Crows but are usually either darker or have more extensive black markings. (Maybe this is determined by which of the 2 species the male and female parents are?)
There are a few examples of these hybrid offspring in these blog-posts.

0137 : An Aberdeen Afternoon (4/4/15)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0423 : Hoping For A Hoopoe (24/7/17)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0497 : Wet, Wild And Windy. (6/3/18)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0674 : Hoopoe Hopes (12/5/19)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

 

[Scozmos]

Thanks guys

 

[Scozmos]

I think it is relatively common where the two populations overlap resulting in birds that look superficially like Hooded Crows but are usually either darker or have more extensive black markings. (Maybe this is determined by which of the 2 species the male and female parents are?)
There are a few examples of these hybrid offspring in these blog-posts.

0137 : An Aberdeen Afternoon (4/4/15)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0423 : Hoping For A Hoopoe (24/7/17)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0497 : Wet, Wild And Windy. (6/3/18)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

0674 : Hoopoe Hopes (12/5/19)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

If they exist, pure hoodies, how would we know?

 

[Stonefaction]

If they exist, pure hoodies, how would we know?

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) -> Hooded Crow (Corvus corone) - BirdID's Bird Guide - Nord University - Birdid

www.birdid.no

 

[Andy Strachan]

Picked this link up in a thread on here and it's very good for this.

Hoodie / Carrion Crow hybrid identification

There is a link below to the paper published in the Orkney Bird Report 2013. This is very much a work in progress and I am currently (time ...

literateherringthisway.blogspot.com

I've seen a good few hybrids like yours and 1 or 2 that looked very close to pure Hooded around Peterhead over last couple years. But for me it's very tough to clinch it even with good lighting and good photos really.