Jim Lady wrote:

>I'm a bit embarrassed about the discussion my original post has caused. I
>hesitated post it, but I thought that (1) it might be of general interest
>to people and (2) I'm interested in becoming more experienced and the
>insight of more experienced people is always helpful. Should I have not
>made the original post since I'm not experienced? This is an honest
>question - not a rhetorical one.

It was of interest, and it prompted some good discussions, whether we could
solve its identity or not. The posting was entirely appropriate, Jim, and
you did the best you could in describing it. (Just between you and me, I
never doubted that it was a red-tail.)

As I wrote, it would be nice if all beginning birders had training in bird
anatomy, what to look for on a bird (varies with taxonomic group), and how
to write descriptions, but it's not easy. A little pamphlet or several
pages in the field guides would be nice, although, in fact, field guides do
show bird anatomy, and I don't think very many birders learn it--there's
too much emphasis on going out and seeing those new birds.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416