Posted by David Fix (206.13.45.186) on May 03, 2000 at 15:28:41:
Once again, we're looking at frozen images of birds rather than the moving creatures themselves...were we to see them in life, or even see a vid, no doubt their identities would become apparent. That said, I think Don has a point about the buteo. Having seen but one Broad-wing in South America, one in Canada, and two in the U.S., I can't say I know the bird at all. However, what I can discern of the underparts pattern does not suggest an immature B. l. elegans RSHA, as the markings beneath seem quite linear, rather than the strange, checkery crosshatching pattern I look for on young CA Red-shoulders. The accipiter seems to me to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It looks like one. It appears 'frail'. I think Goshawk can be eliminated by the small head, apparently clear white undertail coverts, comparatively brief and also too-narrow tail, and especially by the lack of bulbous, expanded trailing secondaries a young Goshawk in this posture would show. The head looks too small for a Cooper's Hawk and there is really no commanding 'jut'---part of this due to the forward cock of the wrists. The tail looks at the short limit for a Cooper's and particularly so for a female. I guess I feel the rounded tips to the tail don't really bother me. If this is a Cooper's Hawk, I'm surprised.