The Coopers found a spot in which to settle while I'm working in the yard. They roost in a big black locust in a Hillsview backyard. I finally got a proper look when one settled for an afternoon nap yesterday. She's brown and white! Teardrop-shaped brown feathers on the white chest, nearly all-white belly, brown and white checkered back, yellow eyes. Her mate appears really dark--he has a slate-grey back all right, red eyes, and a rusty-barred front all the way down to his yellow legs.
Sandilands: "Birds in brown plumage are generally considered juvenile, but some caution must be exercised. Hohn (1983) reported a female that bred in juvenile plumage for 4 consecutive years."
I feel silly for not having noticed the plumage before yesterday.
While she was sitting on her branch, before dozing, she opened her beak a few times and made a soft little buzzy whine. I'd written that sound off as coming from a squirrel.
While the female was sitting on her branch the male flew in and fussed around near her but on some other branches. Much later she chose a new perch. The male, possibly returning from hunting, flew to a tree south of that perch. She gave the "kek" call and went to join hem. Cute avian domesticity. Except in both cases I think they were each checking out an intruder and needed a lot of info to affirm the other hawk is a mate.
