Mystery Bird: Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix

Hooray! A big Corvid instead of an ambiguous Empidonax. Silver-grey back/mantle and nape, black head and flight feathers and a large black bill, it's a Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix).

Yay for corvids!

Yep - Hooded Crow. Black head and flight feathers and tail, grey neck and shoulders.

I'm going to miss the corvids here. There's one that's been hanging round the cafe I frequent, looking for food. And the magpies are gorgeous - they hop onto the balcony outside my office before continuing whatever they're doing.

Bob O'H:

I lived in Australia for some time, and I *totally* miss the magpies!

Their complex social behavior, and their unmistakable song.