day 155 - Urban Birds of Japan (2)

The Common Japanese Crow.

At first sight, these are similar to the Australian Crow (which is actually a raven. Wakarimasen.) The major differences are:

• The Japanese crow has eyes which are not yellow, but brown and more slanted. (Call: "kah-rahs!")

• The Japanese crow has a higher voice, like an adolescent male, while the Australian crow has a voice like a Real Man. (Call: "Farrrrrkk!)

The Japanese word for crow is karasu, which is probably imitative. My first experience of Japanese onomatopoeia.