Editing Fish crow (section)

==Description==
[[File:Corvus ossifragus-flying downstroke.jpg|thumb|left|In flight [[Cape May Point State Park]], [[New Jersey]]]]
The fish crow is a small bird, with an average adult weight of {{convert|280|–|320|g}} in males and {{convert|247|–|293|g}} in females.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baumel |first1=Julian J. |title=Individual Variation in the Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus |journal=The Auk |date=1957 |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=73–78 |doi=10.2307/4082030 |jstor=4082030 |issn=0004-8038|doi-access=free }}</ref> The average male wingspan is similarly larger at {{convert|278|–|292|mm}}, compared to {{convert|264|–|277|mm}} in females.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=David W. |title=The Biosystematics of American Crows |date=1961 |publisher=University of Washington Press |location=Seattle, WA |isbn=978-0-295-73724-9}}</ref> The total body length is between {{convert|36|-|40|cm}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McGowan |first1=Kevin J. |editor1-last=Poole |editor1-first=A. F. |editor2-last=Gill |editor2-first=F. B. |title=Birds of the World |date=2020 |publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology |location=Ithaca, NY |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/fiscro/cur/introduction |access-date=December 12, 2021 |chapter=Fish Crow (''Corvus ossifragus'')|doi=10.2173/bow.fiscro.01 }}</ref>

The fish crow is superficially similar to the American crow, but is smaller and has a silkier, smoother plumage by comparison, and the bill is usually somewhat slimmer. The upperparts have a blue or blue-green sheen, while the underparts have a more greenish tint to the black. The eyes are dark brown. The differences are often only really apparent between the two species when seen side by side or when heard calling.<ref name=Good92>Goodwin, p. 92</ref>

Visual differentiation from the American crow is extremely difficult and often inaccurate.<ref>[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Fish Crow – Physical Characters]</ref> Nonetheless, differences apart from size do exist. Fish crows tend to have more slender bills and feet. There may also be a small sharp hook at the end of the upper bill. Fish crows also appear as if they have shorter legs when walking. More dramatically, when calling, fish crows tend to hunch and fluff their throat feathers.

The voice is the most outwardly differing characteristic for this species and other American crow species. The call of the fish crow has been described as a nasal "ark-ark-ark" or a [[Begging behavior in animals|begging]] "waw-waw". Birders often distinguish the two species (in areas where their range overlaps) with the mnemonic aid "Just ask him if he is an American crow. If he says "no", he is a fish crow." referring to the fact that the most common call of the American crow is a distinct "caw caw", while that of the fish crow is a nasal "nyuh unh".<ref>[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Fish Crow – Voice]</ref> The fish crow also has a single call sounding like "cahrrr".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm|title=Fish Crow ID}}</ref>

[[File:20230827 fish crow south meadows PND00775 1-topaz-enhance-3600h.jpg|thumb|Blue-green sheen visible on feathers]]