At about 7pm tonight, in Ballard (three blocks east of Ballard Market) a
large bird flew over, and I can't identify it.

Wingspan was about 3'
Tail was about 8-10" long, with two very distinct white bands across the tail,
close to the body. The tail narrowed very sharply - almost to a point at the
end. The wings were buff underneath (it flew directly over us). After poring
over my Nat'l Geographic Field Guide, I'd say the wings were shaped like the
wings of a sharp-shinned hawk - "straight" (here's where I need some
terminology!) instead of bent at the ?wrist? like falcons.

The bird flew with a deliberate, slow flap. It was flying east.

I'd say sharp-shinned, but the field guide says 20-28" across, and this one
was definitely larger than that! 3' wing span is what we all came up with,
independently. Then I thought Cooper's, but the guide has confused me - it
has a larger width measurement, but in the write-up it says the Cooper's wings
are shorter than the sharp-shinned. (I've just read the description 3 times,
and it's still reading, to me, as shorter than the sharp-shinned. I think I'm
not getting something here...)

One of the observers said he thought there was a bluish tinge to the underside
of the bird, but I didn't see that.

It was flying quite low, about the height of a 3-story building.

I didn't get a look at the head.

What the heck did we see?

Susan
camel at serv.net
Seattle, WA