help identifying a black bird?

I saw a black bird on a lamp post making a sound a while ago that I think sounded more like a cat pur/ground squirrel/frog (except w/o change in pitch). I think it was bigger than the small black flying group of birds around this area and it didn’t stand up straight like the cawing ones (more like a duck) oh and I live in the California Bay Area. Sorry for the bad description, but if anybody could give me some ideas I would be very appreciative.

Very hard to say what this bird was from your description…my best guess would be an American Crow or a Common Raven. They both can make some odd sounds. See photos below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Raven

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Crow.html

big bird on a lamp post

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