These are indeed Cooper's Hawks.
Please read up on the courtship practices of Accipiters.
The undertail coverts are fluffed to such a degree as
to wholly envelope the outer tail feathers, and can wrap
over to effect the appearance of a white rump.
Early British literature describing the display in the Northern
Goshawk goes so far as to mention the potential confusion
with a harrier. The first time I saw this in a goshawk (in 1985
near Long Point, Ontario) that was certainly my impression.
We are about near the peak for courtship activity in the
Cooper's Hawk in northern Ohio ... and this can be a useful
observation with regard to the Ohio BBA.
cheers
Vic Fazio
Shaker Hts, OH
Rita Schneider <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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
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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