While sitting in car at Safeway Parking lot, a goshawk was heading toward me at about 150 feet altitude. The hawk was bothered by three small birds. The hawk wing beats were rapid
and flexible. The hawk drifted toward Cap Sante Bluff and the woods, as it circled. NB.
The Thought: Many more Asians are going into practicing Medicine. So that they can treat Black People. NB.
Whatbird.com— Posted on May 08, 2021.
This bird- hawk is not a NG. The bird appears to have a broad tail— but not accipiter- long. This hawk is also not a S. S. Hawk. Because the wing configuration is not of a large arm- small hand. This photo is of a bird with a small arm- large hand configuration.
The Thought: We took a ride through Anacortes, after 3 pm. It was somewhat strange— more like a Sunday. Very few people about, but every one except one, were not wearing masks. Still, I would not take many chances. The best, NB.
One of the better ways to identify accipiters is from photographs. In this exercise the hawk should be near your overhead. To add some “spice” to the exercise— it does not matter if the sky is dark or if the hawk appears to be black. This exercise does not involve color nor pattern.
Cooper’s Hawk (COHA) are generally Lanky. What is the value of generally? I don’t know the answer. I would not be surprised if the value of generally is ninety per cent or more. So, this essay is of the word Lanky, and also the word Blocky or Bulky. NG are bulky, Sharp-shinned Hawks (SSHA) can be blocky. SSHA can also be lanky.
Lanky does not take into account the length nor the proportions of the wing. The goal is to observe the body. Is the body long and thin? Is the tail long and thin? We will not compare the body length to the tail length. The one thing we should determine is if the tail is accipiter- long. We will compare the tail width to the body width. As the body of the COHA tapers toward the base of the tail, we can say that the “body” tapers toward the tail. This appearance makes the hawk appear lanky. In other words , the base of the tail width is narrow. If the base of the tail is wide, then the accipiter is NG or SSHA. But, the tail must be completely folded. If the tail is slightly fanned, then the tail tip will be wider than the base of the tail. This will give the look of the tail to be pinched, at the base. This appearance will make the base of the tail appear to be narrow. And you will be fooled. A completely folded tail has the right- side edge of the tail parallel the the left side edge. And that just about wraps it up. Except, that at times, a NG perched, can have a tail which can appear very or quite short, and the tail will taper toward the tip. It can look as a stiletto. However, in flight the NG will lose the tapered tail appearance. So, to wrap it up: An accipiter with a waist, which makes the hawk appear lanky— is a COHA or a SSHA or not a SSHA. NB.
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Posted on May 1 2021
From SW PA. I say this accipiter is NG or Sharp- shinned Hawk. It is blocky or bulky. The tail is broad while gliding. The wings are broad. The hawk appears to have very little waist. I am not interested in bar charts. I am interested on the photograph. From the observer— The hawk went high overhead. But, how high? The bird was acrobatic. High plus acrobatic, to me means the hawk was not a Cooper’s. The best, Nelson. NB.
