196 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



monly along the coast of Connecticut, as far east as Strat- 

 ford. It has been taken at Springfield, Mass., but is prob- 

 ably very rare north of Long Island Sound ; in fact, it is 

 almost always found near the sea or on large streams. 

 Though the Fish Crow is smaller than the Common Crow, 

 it is very difficult to distinguish it by the size alone, but its 

 car is distinctive ; it is higher, more nasal, and less power- 

 ful than the caiv of the common Crow. 



American Crow. Corvus americanus 

 19.30 



Ad. — Entire bird black, with blue or purplish reflections when 

 seen in strong light. 



Nest, of sticks, in tall trees. Eggs, generally bluish-green, 

 marked with brown. 



The Crow is a permanent resident of the warmer portions 

 of New York and New England, but a summer resident of 

 that portion only of the interior where the winter is not 

 severe. Great numbers move to the coast at this season, 

 and find food on the marshes and beaches. Each evening 

 multitudes assemble and fly off to certain roosts several 

 miles away ; in the morning they return and scatter over 

 the feeding-ground. In March long trains flying northward 

 show that the migration has begun. Mating begins early in 

 April ; Crows are now seen pursuing each other in the air, 

 turning and swooping with considerable grace. Besides the 

 ordinary caw, and the many modifications of which it is 

 capable, the Crow utters commonly two other striking 

 notes. One is like a high-pitched laugh, ha-a-a-a-a-a ; the 

 other a more guttural sound, like the gobble of a turkey, 

 cow coiv coit\ Crows have a strong antipathy towards the 

 larger hawks and owls, pursuing them sometimes in great 

 flocks, and cawing vehemently each time the victim makes 

 an attempt to escape his noisy escort. 



