Outdoor Ontario
Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: moratorian on September 16, 2007, 04:00:22 PM
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I spotted this raptor in Rattray Marsh. I am inclined to ID it as a Cooper's Hawk though my initial impression was of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes ... _Raptora_1 (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes-Birds/Unknown_Raptora_1)
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes ... wn_Raptora (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes-Birds/Unknown_Raptora)
The gull was at Jack Darling Park. I have with reservation identified it as a Lesser Back-backed Gull with the beginnings of winter plumage on its head. It's uppers are too dark to be Herring and yet too light to be a Great Black-backed.
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes ... nown_Gulla (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes-Birds/Unknown_Gulla)
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes ... wn_Gulla_1 (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Mikes-Birds/Unknown_Gulla_1)
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The breast markings look more like a Sharpie to me, but I wouldn't want to call it solely on that. I can't really judge the tail from that angle either. If you simply want to look at the odds, there are a lot of Sharp-shinned, and very few Coopers passing through right now.
The gull looks like a Great Black-backed. The mantle is a bit pale, but I don't see any trace of yellow in the legs, and the bill looks really massive. Were there any other gulls nearby? A Lesser Black-backed is actually a bit smaller than a Herring Gull. A Great BB is noticeably larger than a Herring Gull.
BB
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Thanks Brian.
I am inclined to agree with your Gull ID. There were numerous Ring-billed gulls around and it certain was bigger. A closer look at the legs shows neither yellow (Lesser) nor pink (Greater) but that may simply be because the bright light washing the colour out.