Raven in WS?

[B-squared]

Just curious if anyone has identified the large black bird that is in Lincoln Park now, and was in Faunterloy park two weeks ago. Very distict cry when harrassed. My guess is Raven as i saw it flying from crows and it just looked like a larger version of them. cries were rather higher pitch than what i would have thought. almost human sounding.

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[herongrrrl]

Huh, that would be pretty unusual. Around here they are really not urban critters. The easiest way I know to tell a raven from a crow (besides size) is the tail–crows’ tails have straight edges, as though someone cut the feathers straight across, but ravens’ tails are V-shaped. They also have a very low call (hear some calls here, the 4th one is the one I’ve heard most commonly in this area http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/sounds).

However, a large dark bird with a high-pitched voice being harassed by crows makes me wonder if it was a juvenile bald eagle. From a distance their body shapes might seem similar, but if you got a good look at the mystery bird you would see the distinctive eagle beak and talons.

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[anonyme]

This bird was in Arbor Heights a few weeks ago. I was attracted to the spot because I’d never seen such a huge mob of crows go after any predator before. There were a hundred or more crows. Lots of people were out looking, and one neighbor said he’d seen the bird and it was a raven. I have my doubts. I heard it cry a few times, and it sounded more like a juvenile eagle in distress. Never got a look at it. I also don’t understand why a raven would provoke such a dramatic response from the crows. I could be wrong; ravens are tremendous mimics and who knows what it was up to? I’d love to know if someone is actually able to identify the bird in question. I’ve never seen a raven over in this neck of the woods, but would love to. They are scary smart, my favorite bird. I have seen juvenile eagles, and they are very odd looking – as herongrrl said, easily confused with another bird unless you’re close enough to get a gander at the beak.

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[JayDee]

From Alan Parsons Project: “Quote the Raven: “Nevermore””

–

All corvids are smart, and we should be blessed that “jackdaws” do not occur here — very raucous birds–colored like a magpie but loud, very loud.

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[B-squared]

i doubt it was a immature bald eagle as it wasn’t quite that big. and i never got a good look at its tail. i have seen ravens before when hiking but the glimpses i got these last few times were so brief. the bird stayed pretty high up in the conifers and went into the tree cover more like an owl or redtailed hawk would rather than perching on the top. today there were only a few crows chasing it, but a few weeks ago, in faunterloy park there were tons and it was very noisy. i came home and listened to lots of raven calls and it seems they are capable of that sound, but none of the recordings were quite like this one sounded.

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[B-squared]

anonyme – i think i might have just answered my own question. did the bird you hear sound the like the last part of this recording?

http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=318

Click on “Listen”. i think that’s it.

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[anonyme]

B-squared: you’re a genius. That sure sounds like the bird I heard. Not the first part, but the other high-pitched single cries. It would seem we have a raven in West Seattle…sure hope I get to see it.

I read once about a park ranger in one of the big national parks who kept hearing the distinctive sound of flushing toilets. This was in the middle of the wilderness; the ranger was completely baffled as the flushing sounds were very near. Finally he tracked the sound to some ravens. Apparently, the restrooms in the park were on an automatic flush system in the winter, and the ravens had learned to mimic the sound perfectly. Brilliant.

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[Wednesday]

Sounds like the Common Raven I saw at Lincoln Park in March and that I’ve been looking for ever since. I knew it was something different as soon as I heard it and managed to get a quick video on my phone with some faint audio of it’s call. It’s not clear so turn up your volumn. Here’s a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jons0hysLc8

or search Raven at Lincoln Park on YouTube

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[herongrrrl]

Well, how ’bout that? Welcome to the neighborhood, raven! :)

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[BBGuest]

I think I spotted your raven yesterday in Burien near 128th and 1st being herded by crows back to West Seattle. Anybody else seen it lately?

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[Author]

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