A 29-character code doesn't quite capture Middendorff's Grasshopper- Warbler, but I agree that MIDDENDORFFSGRASSHOPPERWAR is unique and almost unambiguous. Bruce Date sent: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:24:44 -0400 Send reply to: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> From: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Putative Ohio species To: [log in to unmask] > 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 > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our > thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional > discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]