Corvids Part 1: HoodedxCarrion Crow Hybrids

Finally I had time to post this first part in a preliminary study of the Corvids of Dresden.
I haven't had much time for birding lately due to work, moving, and less than comfortable weather; can't wait to go home to Cape May next week for a 2 week holiday, during which I will have much field time!

In this first part, I would like to talk about my initial observations and impressions of Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) and Carrion Crow (Corvus corone), as well as the different hybrids visible in the vicinity of Dresden. In part 2 (to come shortly later), I will discuss Rooks and Jackdaws, and flight ID of all Corvid species in the Dresden area. So let's get started!...

Structurally, these two species are very similar, with equal length (44-51cm) and wingspan (84-100cm) according to the 2nd edition of the brilliant fieldguide by Svensson, Mullarney and Zetterström (SMZ). I have yet to find a difference in either basic structure or behavior. So it is easy to see why for so long these two species were lumped and considered to be only geographical races, due to the well-known hybridization within a narrow contact region, until 2002, when Hooded Crow was given full species status again. Prior to 2002, Hooded Crow was Corvus corone cornix. They were split in 2002 after more thorough study revealed that the hybridization between the two corvids was not as prolific as at first thought, and moreover, the hybrid offspring were noted to be less vigorous.

Hooded Crow is wide spread over Northern and Eastern Europe down to the Middle East, with an additional Western population found in Ireland and the northern edge of Scotland. Some short-distance migrating populations in Finland/Russia migrate further east in winter, and some populations migrate westward in winter, and can be found in the eastern half of UK and the western edge of France.

The Carrion Crow is resident in the rest of UK (besides the northern edge of Scotland and Ireland) and West Europe until East Germany in the west, and southward until the northern half of Spain and some populations reportedly migrate southeast into Northern Italy for the winter. Overall, less migratory than Hooded though, and with a smaller range.

The narrow region of contact between the two species, where hybridization occurs, runs northward from the Italian Alps near Switzerland, up through eastern Germany (yes, Dresden!) and probably western Poland to the Baltic Sea coast.

Now for some pics! I apologize for not having great quality photos, but I guess that makes this study especially nice for "GISS":

Above is a typical Carrion Crow, all black with some lilac iridescence on the back. Note the relatively thick bill (compared, e.g., to young Rooks, which lack white at bill base and sometimes can be mistaken for Carrion Crows). Forehead and crown appear quite rounded.  

Here now is a Hooded Crow, showing one obvious difference with Carrion Crow: most of the plummage is  gray, with wings and tail black along with the head (except lower nape) and bib down to the belly. Bill and head shape, though, more or less identical to Carrion Crow.

Now here is what I would like to call a "Type-A" hybrid. This hybrid appears like a Hooded, but with noticeably reduced gray areas; the lower back and underside up to just below the bib are black, leaving only a narrow strip of gray crossing the belly below the bib. On true Hoodeds the gray covers >50% of body, but on all hybrids there is gray but always <50%.

Here is the same bird, from the front. Maybe here the reduced gray compared with normal Hooded Crows is more apparent.

Here we see that hybrid (left) with a Carrion (right). Interesting to note that at least all of the "Type-A" hybrids I have seen have either been alone or with Carrion crows, but never with Hoodeds...interesting, but more observation is needed before making any conclusions about this.

Here is the best photo I have at the moment of the "Type-B" hybrid (if I may), which is similar to Type-A in color pattern, however the gray area is much darker; just a mere shade lighter than the black on the rest of the body. Interesting to note that the few birds of this kind I have seen have mostly been either alone, with other hybrids of its type, or with Hoodeds; only once do I recall seeing it loosly associated with a Carrion. In future, through more careful and detailed observations, I hope to understand the differences between these 2 types of hybrids. Maybe clues to their origins may become evident, as it seems that not much is reported on different hybrids, that I could find. Or perhaps there are more than these 2 types, in which case it doesn't make sense to call them "types"; perhaps there is a continuous range of hybrid phenotypes, from looking almost identical to Hooded Crow parent, all the way to looking almost identical to the Carrion Crow parent?
Any info or advice from other birders more experienced with these hybrids is very much welcomed!

Jackdaws, hand-feeding nuthatches, and...Mandarin Ducks?!

Today was another cold, but sunny Sunday, and I just had to get out of the city-part of the city...so I headed to the Grosser Garten by bike. On they was I stopped near the Russian church, to observe a spread out flock of Corvids which consisted mainly of Rooks (30+), but also included a 2 Carrion Crows and my first (2) Jackdaws for Germany (they were quite common in the Netherlands in early June when I went this year). Interestingly, there were no Hooded Crows, and until now I have never seen Hooded Crow associate with Rooks...next posting will probably include a photo study of Corvids in Dresden, including the hybrids I have observed here.

At the Grosser Garten I went to a new spot which held a pond full of Mallards and, funny enough, Mandarin Ducks! There were 11 drakes (only one in eclipse plumage) and 4 hens; all simply gorgeous birds, and the explanation as to why they were there is probably because there is the nearby Dresden Zoo at the southwestern corner of the park! However, I'm not sure all 15 birds escaped...possibly they have established a small population in he park, which is interesting. For the most part, they seem to be getting along with the Mallards. Will keep an eye on them throughout the year.

There were also 4 Juvenal Mute Swans (2 already mostly in 1st-winter plumage of mostly white) and a lone Black-headed Gull (in basic plumage) on the lake just east of the Palace in the park.

After watching the Hooded and Carrion Crows and 1 hybrid around the Palace, and after a quick sketch of the hybrid, I went to the magic corner to try feeding the birds by hand. I brought both shelled sunflower seeds and walnuts, and I stood patiently with my right hand, filled first with some sunflower seeds, outstretched, eager to experience what will happen next. Not a minute latter a swarm of Great Tits surrounded me, peaking out of the shrubs inquisitively...then a brave one flitted out nervously and hovered above my hand for a second then landed, looked at me, then picked a seed, decided it was not good enough, dropped i,t and picked another, more suitable one, and then took off. Now I have never had the pleasure of experience bird banding, however I believe that what I felt today was much better, because these birds CAME TO ME! They trusted me and I felt some new and warm feeling inside (I know, sorry it's mushy!) that these birds really trusted me, and I was helping them by fattening them up for the cold nights and weather ahead. It was a new facet to bird appreciation, and made me feel more connected with the birds. It is good to learn how to differentiate the different species, but know individual birds is great. To take care of broad bird habitats is caring, but feeding and caring for individuals makes you feel even greater.
I soon took out the walnuts, crushed them, and then had seed and walnuts in separate hands for a bit of experimenting. The birds evidently are were not dumb, as they repeatedly always flew and took from the hand with the richer-in-fat walnuts, rather than the sunflower! Also after about 10+ Great Tits took about 50 seeds, the normally shy Nuthatch finally came to my hand, and I was just ecstatic...though I felt how they have sharper claws then the perching birds :) Then, the even more nervous, but aesthetically-pleasing Blue Tit came for a bite...think I should start a bird in hand list? I imagine some banders have such lists :)

Only other bird of interest was a single adult (European) Goldfinch, another first for Dresden city, but not Germany. That's all for now, good birding everyone, cheers!

Sunny Sunday in the Park - Hawfinches, Redwing, and...Hand-feeding Birds!

This morning was sunny and I headed to Grosser Garten (literally 'Big Garden') which is like Dresden's own version of Central Park; after this day I was especially convinced that it has a strong potential to hold a variety of breeding and seasonal migrant species. On the way I stopped by the Russian Orthodox church where there were around 16+ Rooks spread across the adjacent lawn. This bird became a lifer for me just yesterday, and it was the first time seeing them on the ground, so I tried to get many pics with my little, unprofessional Canon Powershot. Fortunately these birds are relatively bold even for crows (as commented in Birds of Europe (2nd ed.) by Svensson, Mullarney and Zetterström...which from now on I'll refer to as SMZ) and I could get close enough to get some decent shots!

One behavioral note I have thusfar noticed is that they seem to forage by turning leaves over, searching for bugs, and also by driving it's huge bill into the ground to catch earthworms which it finds as an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) does: by turning and lowering its head to find them first by sight. But even more interesting was that a few of them were attempting to crack open chestnuts; the trees from which they fell from are quite common here. This shows intelligence in my mind, and that they seem to be quite the opportunists (as most crows are I suppose). Their pointy-tipped bill (relative to other crow species, which have a much more curved culmen) makes them seem suited for jabbing into the ground to retrieve earthworms, but it is also robust enough to crack open nuts; not by breaking it in the mouth via jaw pressure, but by pecking at it like a woodpecker (I took a short, poor-quality video of one individual). In addition I have seen several other Rooks flying with chestnuts securely held in their beaks...interesting. More on Crow ID notes to come soon...

When I reached the south-western corner of the park (on the outskirts of the Dresden Zoo) I quickly came across the common species: Magpie, Jay, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, and Nuthatch. I recorded (using my camera's video recording option) the alarm/excited call of the nuthatch which sounds like a series-of-'chuitts', which to me invoked the image of a sped-up leaky faucet. :) Then, I heard something new and different; a relatively quiet but clear 'zir-zir-zirring' from high up. I checked the canopy overhead carefully, and then discovered a small flock of 4-5 Hawfinches feeding in a yew berry tree...LIFER! But really a magnificent bird; beautiful shades of brown and gray, with that comical conical bill. They do seem to be rather shy (as literature usually states) and almost as soon as I found them they noticed me and soon disappeared. Flying out of the yew tree I noticed their relatively short tail, that, along with the huge bill, gave them a front-heavy appearance. 

Jays, by the way, were also feeding in the yew tree. Watching their quite distinct flight, I could see why they call them Jay (or why they call our Blue Jay a Blue Jay?): they have similar broad and blunt-tipped wings, which resemble those of the Blue Jays back home, giving it a similar direct and buoyant flight style, with the head seemingly raised throughout. They make me think of a cross between Blue Jay and Northern Flicker. The latter because of the white rump patch, overall color, and (black) mustachial strip.

Walking a little further, I spotted a silent thrush species which landed on a branch just above eye level within a densely branched tree. It was hard to see, and the bird did not move or make a peep. But from the densely spotted breast and throat, bi-colored bill (yellowish with dark tip), clean white belly, brownish-gray back, and dark flanks...it had to be a Redwing, another LIFER!

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Then I came to a corner, which I will now refer to as "the magical corner" of the park...there was a huge flock of 20+ Great Tits, 5+ Nuthatches, 2 Blue Tits, 3 Chaffinches, a few House Sparrows and 4+ Red Squirrels...all gathered around an elderly couple? The man reached his hand into a bag and then brought it out, held his arm out and opened his hand revealing a small pile of crushed walnuts (I asked them later what it was exactly). Then the magic began! Tit after tit took his/her turn flying in, hovering, and perching on a finger or two, hesitating for a second while picking out the best piece, then nabbing it briskly but gently, and finally disappearing...there must have been at least 20 Great tits coming to his hand; sometimes 2 at a time! They were the least shy, but the nuthatches and Blue Tits were much more wary, and Ionly saw the nuthatch one time come to his hand, andmost of them hopped around his feet, picking up dropped pieces instead of coming to the hand like the braver Great Tits. The Chaffinches seemed to be the most nervous, as I never did see them feed from his hand. Even the adorably, tufted-eared Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) would climb up the bench, right up to the man, for a whole hazelnut or chestnut. I plan to go back often, especially in the coming winter, when the local wintering birds depend on feeders and supplemental fatty foods to stay warm and survive, and feed the birds while learning more about them and enjoying this wonderful feeling about being one with nature.

Great Tit feeding on crushed walnut pieces from an Opa's hand.

The Rooks are coming! (Avian Signs of Fall)

Fall migration seemed to really switch on Saturday. As soon as the northerly winds changed the seasonally warm weather to true fall weather, so also came the Rooks (Corvus frugilegus).


I was riding my Bike home from doing some Saturday shopping, when I heard an almost deafening cacophany of hoarse, nasal croaking...and as I squeeked to a halt and looked overhead; I could hardly believe my eyes! It seemed like endless streams of flocks, of 20-40 birds each, were coming from the west and north to join in a tight, swirling cyclone that rose to the limits of unaided vision (no bins on me at the time) of an estimated 350-400 rooks! Now I have seen some large wintering flocks of crows back in NJ (Fish Crows near Millville at the Christmas Bird Count!)...but I believe this could have been the genuine inspiration for Hitchcock's movie! I mean it looked and sounded awesome, but ominous at the same time. I wish I had a camera on me, but alas like the bins!

Also, beside the Elbe River (the river that runs through Dresden like the Raritan runs through the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University :) after perusing through the second-hand flea market (Elbeflohmarkt) I heard, and then saw, my first Greylag Geese (Anser anser) of the fall (and first in Germany for that matter!). There were 26 on the opposite (north) side of the river, just East of Augustusbrücke (August's Bridge), and smaller groups of 4-6 started heading up river (towards the Czech Republic...maybe they were looking for some good, cheap beer?!) honking and displaying their diagnostic very pale leading edge and wing coverts, which was enough to ID them without bins. One of my plans in the near future is to check these rivers regularly for migrating and wintering waterfowl.