Dear Tweeters: Any birder who uses only field marks to identify raptors is
working under a handicap. What if the lighting conditions are of a low
intensity? What if the raptor is turned the "wrong way"? What if some structure,
such as, leaves or branches blocks your view? How should unusual plumages be
treated? What if you get only a 3-second-look, and then the raptor flys off? And
that raptor in the sky giving you that 10-minute-look -- remains
intellectually unresloved.

In winter of 2001-2002, in Tucson, I went to the parking lot of Costco to
look for raptors. This is on Grant, and my first trip to Costco. After about 20
minutes, a mature female Goshawk appeared from across the large wash. The
lighting conditions were excellent. The bird flew slowly overhead at elevation
of 100-150 feet. The bird had a large area of white under tail coverts. The
chest, belly, and under wing coverts were of red vermiculation.

In Rockport, Texas, 2002-2003, in December, January, February, and March, I
had many sightings of a mature, "long winged", female Goshawk. The dorsal
area was dark (pewter grey). The chest, belly , and under wing coverts were of
red-orange vermiculation. This bird was also witnessed (with me) on at least
2-daily-sightings, by a biologist (professor).

In February of 2005, just outside the city limits of Anacortes; at
elevation of about 300 feet; a mature female Goshawk. The bird was soaring, gliding,
and flapping [as a Goshawk flaps].The lighting conditions were excellent. The
bird was heading westward, toward Mount Eire. My impression was; this bird
is new to the area, and might be heading into this area for the first time --
possibly to take up residence. [I never saw that bird again.] This bird had a
large area of white, under tail coverts, and a chest, belly, and under wing
coverts of red vermiculation.

In Anacortes and in Tucson, I have seen male and female Goshawks with red
casts on their ventral (underside) areas. But these sightings were not
dramatic. In other words, the sightings were at long range (in flight), and the bird
gave me just a flash, as it tilted to turn. What would that bird's underside
become at close range? The red areas would become more intense; more
saturated with redness.

One last point, relating to what I call "Goshawks with expressed recessive
genes". I had a brief meeting with 3 biologists from Tucson Game and Fish.
Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D. informed me: at a Goshawk nest in Heber, Arizona, he had
tried to trap a mature female Goshawk. That bird could not be trapped. That
bird had a red chest and belly. Nelson Briefer _Ebriefer at aol.com_
(mailto:Ebriefer at aol.com)



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