Common Raven
Corvus corax
"Extremely large; bill deep-based
and massive; thin feathers of neck very long and shaggy ...."
(Donald & Lillian Stokes. The Stokes Field Guide to the
Birds of North America, p. 508)
"Uncommon. Habitat varied
from tundra to coniferous forest to arid brushland ...."
(David Allen Sibley. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern
North America, p. 288)
"Uncommon to common resident
in the mountains of the Trans-Pecos and east through the Edwards
Plateau. This species is a rare winter and casual summer visitor
to the High Plains. Vagrant Common Ravens have been noted in
the Rolling Plains, South Texas Brush Country, and Blackland
Prairies. Perhaps the most unexpected record was one discovered
at Galveston in November 1998. Almost all reports of the species
east of its normal range are from the winter." (Mark W.
Lockwood & Brush Freeman. The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds,
p. 143)
This is a very uncertain identification
& I have not added this bird as a distinct entry among the
attested species. Compare this
individual with a more certain crow.
In response to an inquiry on TX-ORNITHOLOGY,
one person wrote:
"Not quite a good enough picture
but the beak seems to be more ravenish.
There are a fair number of records of ravens on the utc of both
species with
birds at high island, Quintana and sabine."
and another
"Sure looks bulky for a crow
especially the neck...."
So it may be a Raven.
Photo taken with a Nikon D300 using
a Nikon 400mm, f/5.6.
April 27, 1013.