33: Uncommon Facts about Common Birds: Corvid Edition

Every joke about "Corvid-19" has already been made, so let's skip to the good stuff: BIRDS! We'll share some fascinating, little-known facts about one of the bird world's smartest families (but let's be honest, ALL birds are smart).

Corvids—aka the crow family—can be found all over the world. Even if you're new to birding, you've likely spotted a member of this family around your neighborhood. While some people might consider them "basic" birds, we think they're anything but basic. These uncommon facts about four common US-based corvids will help you wow your friends the next time you see a crow (or is it a raven...?) out and about.

Still struggling with the difference between an American Crow and a Common Raven? We'll break down the differences and provide you with some hard-to-forget visual cues.

Oh, and we also brought back "Birds in the News," since it's been sooooo looooong.

Hit us up at hellobirdshit@gmail.com with feedback/thoughts on the episode!

BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED

USEFUL RESOURCES

• More crow (and corvid) FAQs from Kaeli Swift, Ph.D! (Make sure to follow her on Twitter, too.)

BIRDS WE MENTION (in order)

• Cave Swiftlet
• Oilbird
• Forty-spotted Pardalote
• Blue Jay
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Eastern Screech-Owl
• Eastern Bluebird
• Indigo Bunting
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• American Crow
• Common Raven
• Black-billed Magpie

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

• To NOT Kill a Mockingbird
• We’re not the only ones getting fat during quarantine: birds are, too.
• Don’t hate the gulls: we need their expensive poop!
• A win for an endangered Tasmanian bird, thanks to smart-thinking scientists