This is bird note.

The harsh cause of American crows are one of the most familiar bird calls in North America.

But a few crows in this flock sound like they've got stuffy noses.

The birds aren't under the weather, of course.

They're fish crows, a different species from the more widespread American crow.

Fish crows are a little smaller than American crows.

Otherwise, they look very similar.

But their voices are distinctive.

The American crow's horse caws. And the nasally calls of the fish crow.

While they do love seafood, fish crows aren't limited to coastal areas. They're found in much of the eastern U.S., and the species

seems to be spreading to new areas north and west to breed. In winter, fish crows join flocks of

American crows looking for food in cities and landfills, where they'll sometimes squabble for a tasty

morsel with a fellow scavenger like a raccoon or a gull.

So if you hear a bird in your neighborhood that sounds like it could use some cold medicine,

keep an eye out for fish crows.

For bird note, I'm Michael Stein.

This episode is brought to you by Wild Delight Bird Food,

which aims to support wild bird populations with clean, nutritious ingredients in every blend.

Available at chewy.com.