Raven? NE Pennsylvania (1 Viewer)

[MLoyko]

Hey all,

Just got back from a fishing trip to Peck's Pond this morning and on the way there this big black bird came over the trees towards our car. I thought it was a vulture with the wing beats but then realized as it turned it looked like a crow...a really big crow. I also noticed it had a thick bill. Is Pike County Pennsylvania in range for common raven?

thanks,
Matt

 

[dantheman]

Apparently it is. They're spreading southwards in recent times.

Did you notice the wing length/fingers much, or the shape of the tail?

 

[birderbf]

Hey all,

Just got back from a fishing trip to Peck's Pond this morning and on the way there this big black bird came over the trees towards our car. I thought it was a vulture with the wing beats but then realized as it turned it looked like a crow...a really big crow. I also noticed it had a thick bill. Is Pike County Pennsylvania in range for common raven?

thanks,
Matt

I do think Pike County is within range of ravens. I know they occur that far south in NY, so...

Your description is pretty convincing. Size is very hard for me to judge even though I see Fish and American Crows daily. Tail shape is often very useful, as is flight style, but I've found the most useful charcteristic is the overall shape of the bird in flight. Ravens have a much longer head. In crows and Turkey Vultures, the head only projects a little beyond the wings. In ravens, the wings seem to be centered right in the middle of the body, with equal head and tail projection from either end.

Raven: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/387420018_8ffbea000f.jpg?v=0
Crow: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/Behavior/Spring2007/Burke/Assets/AmericanCrow1LR.jpg

 

[MLoyko]

It did have very pronounced feathers, and I think the head may have projected out far, cause it had a huge bill

-Matt

EDIT: Link to raven looks good!

 

[Jim M.]

Hi Matt,

It is not always easy to see, but the wedge-shaped tail is diagnostic for Raven. Next time, also look for it on birds in flight. See this photo: http://wildresiliencyblog.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/raven.jpg

Best,
Jim

 

[ceasar]

There are Ravens in the Poconos and in the Central Pa. Appalachain mountains and south. They aren't numerous, but they are around. I saw one recently in a Pine tree in my friends back yard in Blakeslee in the Western Poconos. I've also seen them around the F. E. Walter Dam on the Lehigh River.

Bob

 

[Tero]

If you can play some tapes, it sounds quite different from crows to me. I use this out West, as the ravens are not that huge out there at times.

 

[ceasar]

If you can play some tapes, it sounds quite different from crows to me. I use this out West, as the ravens are not that huge out there at times.

Yes.
I purchased a good Thayer Birding Software bird guide to Pennsylvania birds that includes bird songs. It was sold along with a small National Geographic Field Guide to Birds that were specific to Pennsylvania. Edited by Jonathan Alderer. ISBN # 0-7922-5562-3. Check your local Barnes & Noble in the section devoted to books on places of interest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Bob.

 

[MLoyko]

Honestly Jim,

Your link looks a lot like the bird I saw, It was way too big for an American crow and definitely not a vulture. My friend was even like, "did you see the size of that crow" I think I have have heard it while fishing, it was a low guttural noise, not the crow-like call my audio book has.

Thanks,
Matt

P.S. another lifer for me!

 

[chris butterworth]

Low gutteral noise would indicate a Raven, always sounds like " cronk" to me
Chris