Well, when we start to recycle the bird-name abbreviation issue (I know
of a completely unambiguous 29-character system for North America I'm
willing to share: it would be even shorter except for the pesky
'northern rough-winged swallow'), it's time to try something new.
        I read something the other day that suggested a series of posts, I hope
informative and interesting, about Ohio records that would, had they not
been forgotten, ignored, or disputed, have added new species to the
state list.
        #1 is fish crow. On page 67 of "Birds of West Virginia. Bulletin #3 of
the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station," by W. D. Doan,
published in Morgantown in 1888, appears the following entry: "FISH
CROW. Corvus ossifragus. Resident. Rare. I saw two Fish Crows on
Blennerhassett Island October 2. They were flying over the island to the
Ohio side."
        In a quick look, this work looks like a conscientious compilation of
its time. One slightly whacky thing I found is its inclusion of northern
shrike and omission of loggerhead shrike. Fish crow has a firm place on
today's West Virginia list, for many more reasons than this report;
George Hall acknowledges it, accompanied by a bit of skepticism, in his
"West Virginia Birds' (1983).
        Part of the reason Ohio doesn't have this species on its list involves
ID problems far more difficult than those regarding shrikes. Fish crows
are somewhat smaller than American crows, and there are some
morphometric differences if you have the bird in hand. There are some
behavioral clues that might lead one to look more closely, but for the
most part one should rather listen more closely. Corvid expert Kevin
McGowan has some excellent advice at
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm  . Most authorities seem
to agree this species is slowly extending its range inland via major
watercourses, and Doan's report supports the idea of being extra alert
for this bird along the Ohio River.
More on other species later,
Bill Whan
Columbus



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