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From: grp@unify.uucp (Greg Pasquariello)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: OUTDOOR: Re: Chicken Hawks
Message-ID: <3nj41n@unify.uucp>
Date: 15 Dec 89 16:28:52 GMT
References: <14739@shamash.cdc.com> <52342@oliveb.olivetti.com>
Reply-To: grp@unify.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello)
Distribution: na
Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA
Lines: 44

In article <52342@oliveb.olivetti.com> mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) writes:
>
>
>In article <14739@shamash.cdc.com>, gls@hare.udev.cdc.com (gl sprandel x4707) writes:
>> 
>>  Re: Chicken hawk
>>    Note: Size is not a very good diagnostic for determining
>>    coopers versus sharp shinned.
>
>	As was mentioned in a previous posting, identifying Cooper's
>from Sharp-Shinned Hawk is probably the most difficult raptor ID
>problem. One should undoubtedly use a number of field marks rather
>than rely on just a single one. It may not be possible to identify
>every bird that you see.

Excellent list of field marks deleted.  The only thing that I would add is 
that Cooper's are generally somewhat heavier than sharpies, thus they have
a greater wingload.  This in turn causes them to have a heavier flap than
the sharp shin, which can often be used to seperate them a extreme distances.

>
>	I believe that it is easier to see field marks on perched
>birds rather than those that are flying. Soaring birds tend to be
>too far away to make out most diagnostic field marks and birds that
>aren't soaring are generally in view for only a short time. I sure
>don't envy hawk counters who usually have to make an ID on soaring
>accipiters during migration. However, the more birds that you look
>at, the better you will get. There is no substitution for experience.
>
>Mike


One of the other species to be aware of when trying to seperate acciptiers,
is the Marsh Hawk.  Although not an Accipiter, it has a similar shape when
seen soaring high overhead, as they often do while migrating in the east.
The key here is to recognize the long wings that seem to give the bird a 
stretched out look.  Many times I have looked at a soaring accipiter and
thought "now what the heck is that?", only to have it become a Marsh Hawk.

-Greg
-- 
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Greg Pasquariello	(916) 920-9092		grp@unify.UUCP
Unify Corporation				...!{csusac, pyramid}!unify!grp