> This is another in my unending series of pleas to lighten up a little on
> falconocentrism, which seems to be particularly acute in this region. But
> don't despair, passerinophiles. My Bushtit Research Bunch will be
> attempting to capture and color band Marvin this weekend. Marvin, as you
> know, is the tercel Bushtit who has been hunting the Thornton Creek drainage

Is it not ironic that the insect catching behavior of many passerines is
called "hawking"?

I was amazed watching a flycatcher literally dive straight down repeatedly
for prey. None of this swooping out a few feet and back to the twig, but
straight down and back up again. Seven or eight times before moving on.