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I have way too much fun Shazam-ing birds with the Merlin Bird ID app. Constantly listening for new calls now, it’s like Pokémon hunting IRL.
There is something that looks like a crow but screeches like a gull and merlin hasn't been able to figure it out 😭
Where are you based approximately? Europe/Asia/US/etc? Is the bird fully black? Same size as a crow? Any distinguishing information might help!
I am on US, Louisiana Gulf region. The birds are always flying in formation when I hear it. They seem all black and their wing tips seem to be a little jagged/spiked, not sure how to describe it
Hmm when you say flying in formation do you mean in like a cloud or a specific shape? If so could be starlings as they have a very varied repertoire of songs and can mimic other birds (which might explain why Merlin can't identify them)
When you say 'jagged wings' do you mean you can see the individual feather tips (like fingers)? Could be fish crows? The juvenile sound could be a little seagull-y?
Grackles are usually fully black apart from having lighter eyes. Some species flock together, and like starlings they also minic other birds.
Edit: one thing to note is Merlin doesn't always work well if you've turned GPS off on the phone. That might also interfere with identification
They are groups of 5 or so individuals flying in wedge formation o suppose. I am second guessing myself now but I think the 3rd call sound down for the fish crow might be it!
I think that tracks, they do look like crows and I am surrounded by crows. They just never make that noise when they are perched.Thank you so much! I have been here almost a year and try to figure it out ever few months!
Gonna sit on my patio some night it isn't raining and comapre it!Hmmm flying in formation like that sounds more like waterfowl. Could it be cormorants? Are you by the shore or near a large body of water? They can be all black like crows and the begging sound of the double crested cormorant does sound kind of seagull-y?
If they're fish crows though, that's cool, they're rarer than the carrion crows we're more used to. In any case I'm glad if I could be of help and I hope you continue to enjoy listening to and watching birds!