The only raptor I can think of with white lateral tail feathers as part of
normal plumage that even comes close to the description of this bird is
juvenile White-tailed Kite, as that bird also has a gray back and juveniles
have some streaking on the breast, if I recall correctly. However, the huge
problem with it being a kite is that I don't see how good Ohio birders who
are familiar with Cooper's Hawks would mistake a kite for an accipiter! Not
to mention that other details of White Tailed Kite plumage would have been
totally obvious (all the white for example). Let's hope someone gets a photo
and can submit it to ID frontiers.
Andrew R. Sewell, MS, RPA
Principal Investigator
Historical/Industrial Archaeology
Hardlines Design Company
4608 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43214
ph. (614)-784-8733
fax (614)-784-9336
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-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rita
Schneider
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 4:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Unusual Hawk, Macedonia 3/30 -- Need ID help
Any ideas on Bill's sighting?
I saw a similar bird while standing in the parking lot of the Seiberling
Naturealm in Akron on March 28th. (About 15 miles south of Bill's -- maybe
the same bird???)
Bill's description was spot on -- but I got a quick look at the underside,
which appeared lightly barred to me. My first thought, also, was that it was
a Cooper's.
It turned and I got a look at that tail, which was slightly fanned and
showing the white outer feathers on either side. Then it disappeared over
the trees.
I didn't get the impression that it was a harrier -- is there a stage where
a Cooper might show this kind of plummage? (juv-adult etc.)
Any other thoughts?
Thanks much,
Rita Schneider
Subject: Unusual Hawk, Macedonia 3/30
From: William H Fissell <whf4 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 11:23:28 -0500
Birders,
Whilst getting a title for my truck at the Macedonia title bureau--
right next to the firehouse on Valley View Road - I saw what I first
took to be a Cooper's Hawk flying across the road. I saw it from the
back and above only, as the bird was banking in such a way I never saw
the underparts. The bird was Coop sized or maybe a hair bigger, with
grey back and wings. I was looking at the tail and observed that the
bird had white lateral tailfeathers on both sides, and not just the
outer feather-- the outer two or three feathers were white, with a
narrow band of grey down the middle. I don't know if there was any
banding of that grey, as I was so startled I looked back at the body of
the bird and the wings for more clues. I think there was a whitish rump
patch, but I am not totally sure. The overall impression was more like a
meadowlark or sandpiper tail, rather than a junco tail. The wings were
broad and rounded, and again the overall impression was a coop. I
probably saw the bird for 2-3 seconds as it flew across the road and
parking lot and into the woods.
AFAIK, there aren't any raptors with white lateral tail feathers, so if
any Macedonians see the bird, I'd love to know what ti really is.
Bill
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