Results of the Accipiter Photo Quiz - Part I
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/AccipiterQu
iz_link.htm
<blocked::blocked::http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/lin
k_pages/AccipiterQuiz_link.htm>
Thanks to those of you who took time to respond.
This was as one respondent noted: "A Great Mystery Bird." Another
respondent remarked: "Interesting bird. Actually, interesting photos,
given the wildly differing quality of the lighting in the three photos."
And in reviewing the responses in support for both a Cooper's and Northern
Goshawk, the challenges in identifying between these two species based on a
few overhead aerial shots become evident .
(Special note: The differing quality of the lighting was the result of
backgrounds as the accipiter approached with clouds in the background and
then overhead with blue sky.)
Total respondents: 16
Total "definite" responses in favor for specific species: 12 (4 supporting
Cooper's; 8 supporting NOGO)
Cooper's Hawk (immature): 4 (only 2 provided comments)
Northern Goshawk (immature): 6 (all provided comments)
Northern Goshawk (subadult): 2 (all provided comments)
Three respondents simply questioned if it was a specific species without
clarification:
Cooper's: 1
Northern Goshawk: 2
One respondent questioned if Northern Goshawk came through our area.
"..Otherwise, I'd say a female Coop." Although they stated the secondaries
were broad, but not that broad, they noted the tail seemed further away from
the wings than the usual Coop.
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Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
Digital Photography, including Birds of Virginia:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com