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 crows 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 on for fish Crows. For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note is provided by Jim and Beerta Faulkner from Seattle, Washington,

and generous listeners around the world.