6 replies to this topic

[John Shauger]

SE AZ near Cave Creek Canyon AZ in early Sept.
Chihuahuan has white-based neck feathers. This guy is an over achiever with his white.


Chihuahuan has stout bill with long nasal bristles (see faint hairs on nose):


Having said all that, it may be a wierd Common Raven.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I don't have any experience with these guys, so I won't comment on species, but I believe those white feathers are partial leucism. It looks to me like the entire feather is white, rather than just the basal region.

[spookyjimjams]

I don't have any experience with these guys, so I won't comment on species, but I believe those white feathers are partial leucism. It looks to me like the entire feather is white, rather than just the basal region.

Based on how raggedy the rest of bird is, I can believe that the bases of the feathers are showing in this photo and are definitely white. I don't think it is leucism.

[psweet]

I believe that the white that distinguishes Chihuahuan's is at the base of the feathers on the nape. I'm not sure what this guy indicates. On the other hand, if you were out on the flats east of Portal, Chihuahuan would make sense. If you're up in the mountains, it's more likely a Common.

[John Shauger]

Photo taken in desert (flats) not in mountains near Portal AZ. I'll go with Chihuahuan Raven for now.
Thanks!

[Paruula]

This guy is molting heavily, and does appear to be showing white feather bases over leucism. Chihuahuan Ravens have white feather bases on their neck and most of the rest of their body, so that's pretty typical. Corvids, particularly young ones, are bad molters and tend to look pretty patchy for a while. There is also a strong tendency among them to molt all of their nasal bristles at once, which could account for your bird's rather short moustache.
However, I wonder how much of the whiteness is due to the exposure on the camera, proportionally this bird kind of strikes me more as a crow than a raven.

[Liam]

I believe that the white that distinguishes Chihuahuan's is at the base of the feathers on the nape.

That was my understanding. Given the extensive amount of white on this bird's wings, I'd say it's definitely partially leucistic.