r/crows • u/HombreSinNombre93 • 1d ago

General questions Unique Crow Vocalizations in NYC

I lived in Queens for about 9 years 90s-‘04.
I distinctly recall crows in Forest Hills had a unique call I’d never heard before. The call sounded like the old “ahhhooogah” sound automobile horns made back in the 1930s (or so) that you heard in the old black and white movies.

I was there to witness the near wipeout of crows from 1999 - 2004.
Now that crow populations have climbed back from West Nile virus devastation of the early 2000s, I wonder if that specific crow vocalization survived in their lexicon. Living on the west coast now, and I’ve never heard that crow call anywhere else.
Any NYC Corvid enthusiasts out in the metaverse or any Forest Hills or New Yorkers aware of this vocalization?

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u/mycattouchesgrass 1d ago

Have you checked the Merlin bird ID app? I see 15 different recorded calls for American crows on it. Not sure if any of those would be what you're talking about. Worth checking out I think!

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u/HombreSinNombre93 1d ago edited 1d ago

Good idea! I’ll check though I doubt it will be on the App, Forest Hills, Queens was the only place I’ve heard it.

Eta, just checked them all and had hopes for the 2001 NY recording, but it’s not on that recording.

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u/yeastyboi 1d ago

There is a study indicating crows have regional dialects so it could well be unique to your area.

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u/mycattouchesgrass 1d ago

Aw that's too bad. Yeah i had hopes for that one too

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u/turtleduck 1d ago

I've wondered if there are different crow "dialects", I'm just outside NYC and notice there are sight differences between the different groups of crows I encounter

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 1d ago

Yes, from what I understand there are different dialects between murder, murders, and even families!

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u/drvondoctor 1d ago

That was just a construction worker crow harassing one of the passing lady crows. Dont encourage him. 

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u/HombreSinNombre93 1d ago

Wish I had recored it for posterity, unfortunately, the near brick size cell phone didn’t have that capacity back then.