FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Re: accipiter id - new question for me

[<birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Charlie and All,

Very good question, and one that I have too wondered when looking
through books of Eurasian birds. I am certainly neither the expert or
professional that Wallace mentioned, but the following info might be of
interest. I don't believe that either of our smaller accipiters, or
their Eurasian counterparts have yet been VERIFIED on the opposite land
mass.

In the fairly recent series in Birding magazine concerning probable
"Next New ABA-Area Birds", the Eurasian Sparrowhawk was the bird voted
most-likely to be the next new ABA-bird from the Western Alaska region.
This same report lists two fall fly-by sightings of small accipiters
from Attu. This species was also mentioned as a possible next new ABA
bird for the Northeastern North America (Newfoundland and Labrador to
Delaware Bay). In this voting it finished well down the list though. It
obviously though is thought of as a bird to look for, especially on the
periphery of our area. The ID of this bird is definitely way beyond me,
but in the ABA article on Alaska by Thede Tobish he sums the differences
between it and Sharpie/Coop as follows "ID particulars on Eurasian
Sparrowhawk include distinct similarity to Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk,
but adults usually show a paler, usually unmarked chin and throat and
less-heavy ventral barring".  I think it would be safe to assume that
whoever turns up the 1st-record will probably have some experience with
the species beforehand.

Two other small Asian Accipiters are also thought to be good shots at an
ABA appearance from Alaska, Chinese and Japanese Sparrowhawk. The
Japanese in particular is also very similar to a Sharpie, but slightly
smaller. There is an unconfirmed sight record of Chinese from the
western Aleutians in 1996. Without a doubt, chances are pretty slim that
TN will turn-up the 1st record of any of these species, but nobody was
looking for us to come up with the 2nd-ABA record of Variegated
Flycatcher or the southernmost record ever for Ivory Gull. Wherever it
comes from, I don't think it'll be too many more years before the ABA
has a new Accipiter on the list.  I'll also pass on the conspecific
issue :')

If you look through the many great foreign bird books that are out
there, the number of birds that are similar to familiar species here
that would probably get looked over 99 times out of 100 is amazing. We
all know the "usual" similar-species rarities that we look for like
Common Teal, Stints, etc. But if a Gray Heron or Little Egret showed up
in TN, I think the chances that they would be identified as anything but
a Great Blue and Snowy are pretty slim. UNLESS, they were seen by
someone familiar with them from their home ranges, they ran into the Ol'
Coot, or someone had really taken the time to study outside the lines
and go over the possibilities, and be aware of what they might be.

Very interesting subject, just goes to show that you can never have too
many bird books :')


Good birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie,TN
Carroll Co.
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd



----- Original Message -----
From: "Charlie" <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Birdchat" <birdchat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "TN-Bird"
<TN-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 8:44 PM
Subject: [TN-Bird] accipiter id - new question for me


>
> We were sure of the ID, but then I flipped a page and saw it's twin -
> a Eurasian species called Northern Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus.)  I
> can't tell you what the differences between Sharpie and this bird
> are, aside from geography and page number.  Has either species ever
> been recorded on the "wrong" side of the pond?  Were they ever
> considered conspecific?  Why aren't they now?  Since the Sharpie is
> stronly migratory, and the Eurasian Kestrel has been found in the US,
> isn't it conceivable that the Sharpie could end up in Europe?  The
> range map for the Northern Sparrowhawk appears to show that it, too
> is heavily migratory - so couldn't it possibly show up here?  If so,
> would anyone ever know?
>
> Food for thought.
>
> Good birding,
> Charlie
>
>
>
> =====
> **************************************************
> Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
> Now living in Maryville, TN
> Still working in Great Smoky Mountains
> National Park
>
> "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm"
> Ralph Waldo Emerson
>
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  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
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