FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Re: Osprey at the Willey Bridge

[WEalding <wealding@xxxxxxx>]

According to Clark and Wheeler's, Peterson Field Guides - Hawks (1987) "Raptors 
replace their plumages annually, during the summer in most species"


Wendy Ealding
Powhatan County


In a message dated 03/03/08 14:15:54 Eastern Standard Time, 
lbarnett@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
The birds are definitely getting the idea that Spring is around the 
corner. When I stepped off the porch this morning to get the newspaper, 
I was greeted by a Red-shouldered Hawk flying directly overhead, making 
a huge racket, hotly pursued by an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk - the 
size difference between the two birds was very obvious. They were kind 
enough to perch in trees right across the street, which gave me time to 
dash back inside for my binoculars (and, coincidentally, threw the 
morning schedule off, but hey, what can you do). 

I'll reveal my ignorance with a question about plumages -- how long does 
a Sharpie keep the brown, streaky-breasted immature plumage? I guess 
this bird must have been approaching a year old, since it's too early 
for it to be a fledgling (or so I presume). Sibley answers questions 
like this for breeding plumages, but not, I think, for things like the 
molt from immature to adult plumage. 

Good birding, 

-- 
Lewis Barnett -- Chair, Dept. of Math & CS, U. of Richmond, VA 23173 
             -- lbarnett@xxxxxxxxxxxx | lbarnett@xxxxxxx 
             -- http://www.mathcs.richmond.edu/~lbarnett/ 

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