Rooks (was originally Crows but changed after consultation)

[Sploosher]

Went out yesterday, but not to where we planned, to take some wildlife pictures.

Unfortunately, nothing came within reach of my 70-300 so I had to settle for these taken at the carpark just before leaving to come home.

Wetlands Rooks 1


Wetlands Rooks 2


Wetlands Rooks 3

[Sploosher]

Wetlands Rooks 4


Wetlands Rooks 5


Wetlands Rooks 6


Cant wait until I get a longer zoom...........

Sony 70-400 would be nice................

[Birma]

Hi Sploosher - that first shot is a cracker with the three birds sat in the branch like that. They look a bit like Rooks to me, but I'm no expert . I sort of hope it's crows as the collective noun for crows is a "murder" and that would make a great, if slightly spooky, picture title .

[Sploosher]

I can never tell the difference between Crows Rooks and Ravens, they all look the same to me.............

If some one can confirm what they are, then I will change the title......

[aster]

Hi Sploosher, : )

Great shots. I *think* that they may be Common Ravens rather than crows. Here's a comparison I found on the Internet.
The head to beak curve appears to be more angular on the ravens and they have almost black eyes like the ones in your photos have.

You be the judge.

Yildiz

[Birma]

Hi Sploosher - in the interest of pedantry I have consulted a couple of bird books and they are indeed rooks. It is the pale beak and face patch around the beak that is the main distinction. I think rooks' beaks are longer for all that stabbing for worms as well.

Ravens are much bigger/heavier than crows. They can also be told about by their call. The Raven's is a 'cronk-cronk' sound rather than the crows 'caw-caw' - if you see wht I mean . The Ravens diamond shaped tail is also different to the crow's fan tail shape.

When all is said and done, they are still nice pics - pity it is not a 'murder' though . According to Google it is either a building or a clamour of rooks - clamour would be my favourite.

Just seen Yildiz's reply - but I still think they are Rooks (corvus frugilegus).

[aster]

You are probably right, Birma. : )

These in this photo from the Web bear more likeness to Sploosher's shots, especially the pale beaks and their shapes.

[Birma]

Hi Yildiz - that looks like two different species to me - the one on our left I think is a Rook and the one on our right looks like a Raven.

Sploosher - sorry to hijack your thread with all of this bird id. stuff . It is just one area that has always interested me since we used to try and guess which was which on long family trips when I was a very car-sick child.

[aster]

Hi Birma,

Yes, indeed, they are two different species. Well, from what I read a little ravens and rooks are all subspecies of crows but then there's a subspecies called crows too. Pretty confusing from the amount of opinions that come from different people.

Still though, Sploosher's specimen are Rooks and I think they have very dark eyes that appear like dark holes and very interesting brows.

Yildiz

[Sploosher]

Birma.

No worries about hijacking, at least we have come to a conclusion as to what they are......