Sunday, June 1, 2008

some notes of the photos

The (3) photos of 6 February were sent to AZFO with my report of "Goshawks with expressed recessive genes".
The 1 photo - 16 February has 3 complimentary photos: male NG
The bird photographed on 8 March had a male companion. The female was also glassed - and had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. There is another photo to compliment the 2 photographs presented.
Bert Jackson is a photographer and Audubon member. The photograph of 10 march is a good photograph. The bird is past the ideal viewing position. The most pleasing and informative position to observe raptors is when the bird is over head and slightly past your position. Bert's photograph shows the long accipiter tail. The wind tips are pointed and show the typical large arm, small hand configuration. 2 "S" shapes can be seen; from the front or the rear - and from the dorsal or ventral view. If you were viewing from the side you would observe the third "S" shape. The broadside view would show the wing as an air foil or as an aircraft wing cross section. The 3 "S" shapes can become more prominent as the speed of the air over the wing increases. Also notice the sharp, clean outline of the wings, and that the wings have no dihedral.
The 30 March photo has a companion photo, that shows the NG in a soar-glide. As typical, there is no dihedral, and the wing's leading edge is straight across. I have many photographs of NG with the leading edge of wings straight across. Many field guides state that Cooper's Hawks can present with the leading edge of wings straight across - but Goshawks do not. Those field guides are not presenting proper information.

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