[TN-Bird] Mid-summer Accipiters

Hi all,

This comes up regularly in reviewing eBird submissions, but it's a  
worthwhile reminder for everyone:

While Sharp-shinned Hawks are certainly not unknown in middle and  
west Tennessee in the dog days of summer, they are quite scarce at  
this season.  At this time of year they are vastly outnumbered by  
Cooper's Hawks, a widespread breeder all across the state from the  
mountains to the Mississippi.  So, any suspected Sharpie in these  
areas in summer should be identified with great care, as you would  
use for any other rarity that presents ID challenges.  There is more  
to making this distinction definitively than just size and tail shape  
-- consult any (or all!) of the excellent field guides out there.   
And remember there is NO shame in leaving some Accipiters  
unidentified as to species; it's a sign of honesty, not poor birding  
skills.

Bill Pulliam
Hohenwald TN 
  
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