For reasons unknown some geographical areas may have more albino birds than others. For instance, Nick notes, an unusually high percentage of the robins around Vancouver, B.C., exhibit albinism. Meanwhile, closer observation of which kind of finches our bird shows up with may give a clue as to its species. Quoth McLeran John McLeran at the Woodcock Nature Center on the Wilton-Ridgefield line reports both pintails and ravens being sighted there. Sightings of ravens are also being reported from Devil's Den in Weston, he said.
Ravens are rare here, but fairly common in the north woods of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
We also saw them in the Sierra Nevadas on a recent trip to California. However, while many species seem to be moving into our area from the south, ravens appear to be gradually arriving from the north. Over the past five years, there have been increasingly frequent reports of them from northwestern Connecticut. A week or two ago, I saw what seemed to be a raven flying over Route 33 in Ridgefield. Ravens are often confused with crows, but are significantly bigger and have a different voice.