I think it looks like an immature red shouldered hawk, with streaking up to the head. Kyle Bardwell
________________________________ From: Rob Jett <[email protected]> To: NYSBirds <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, January 29, 2011 7:22:18 PM Subject: [nysbirds-l] Brooklyn hawks and accipiter ID question Today Heydi Lopes and I birded some of Brooklyn's coast. We had intended on focusing our efforts on gulls and waterfowl. By the end of the day, however, it had turned into more of a raptor-fest. We finished our day with 8 species of raptor and a question mark next to a possible ninth. The bird that began the "fest" and the one in question was spotted while we were walking east along Coney Island Creek. It was flying across Coney Island Creek from Dreier-Offerman Park towards Kaiser Park where it perched in a tree near the Northwest corner of the soccer fields. My initial impression when it flew in front of us was of a large buteo. Once it perched in the tree its long tail made it clear that it was an accipiter. Several crows tried to scare it off, which didn't work, and they quickly left. The hawk seemed larger than the crows and almost the size of a red-tail. When we got close it appeared that the bird was checking out a previously killed (and partially eaten) Brant below. Walking around to the front of the bird for a better look, my thought was that it was an extremely large juvenile Cooper's Hawk, but there were some odd characteristics about this individual. Compared to its very robust body, it appeared to have a very small head. In addition, the face appeared to have almost facial disks, like a harrier. The ground color of the underside was not white, but an off white turning tawny on the breast and upper-breast. It had considerable spotting on its back in an almost checkerboard pattern. Most of the spots were tinged with tawny, especially up around the shoulders. The tail was odd in that it seemed to be missing a feather or two (not helpful). The tail banding was very wavy. From the top side they actually seemed to be arc shaped. Anyway, you probably see where I'm going here, but I have little experience separating juvenile NOGO from COHA and would appreciate any feedback. I've posted some digiscoped photos here: http://tinyurl.com/6kuvamp Heydi also took a bunch of photos and I'll give a link when she has them up. Oh yeah, the other raptors today were: Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk (dark morph, over White Island at Marine Park Saltmarsh) American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Good birding, Rob The City Birder Weblog http://citybirder.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
