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Re: Coopers imitating harriers
- To: R O Bierregaard Jr <rbierreg@email.uncc.edu>, carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Re: Coopers imitating harriers
- From: Nancy Iha <niha@citcom.net>
- Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 17:58:07 -0400
- In-reply-to: <a05010413b7024db0b243@[165.247.178.178]>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
I have also had this experience with Cooper's Hawks here at Slick Rock. I
feel better knowing that the wrap-around white undertail coverts have been
temporarily taken as a white rump by at least one other birder.
At 03:51 PM 4/17/01 -0400, R O Bierregaard Jr wrote:
>Once again, the Cooper's Hawks are doing an interesting display that
>makes them look most un-Cooper's Hawkish. An eminent local student of
>birds (who will remain nameless) was fooled into thinking he had seen
>Harriers upon looking up and seeing a pair of birds in very slow,
>floppy flight--they look almost like big moths or butterflies (this
>is how it's described in Bent's Life History account for
>Coopers)--with white rump patches. The white rump patch is actually
>the undertail coverts which are flared out so far as to sort of wrap
>around the base of the tail and makes it look like a white rump patch.
>
>Keep your eyes open for this display, which may or may not be
>associated with nesting territories. It probably is, but has been
>seen from birds on migration. But then we hear birds on migration
>giving their territorial song, so this really wouldn't be that
>different.
>
>Rob Bierregaard
>--
>
>Rob Bierregaard
>
>**********************************************************
>
> Phones: 704 333 2405
>Biology Department 704 547 3499
>UNC-Charlotte Faxes: 704 333 2404
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>Charlotte NC 28223-0001 rbierreg@email.uncc.edu
>
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>**********************************************************
>
Nancy Iha
niha@citcom.net
at Slick Rock above 3000'
Brevard, NC