Mystery Parkdale Raptor

[Julia]

We were watching the World Cup yesterday afternoon in our apartment at Queen and Dowling when I (and one of my cats) heard something calling outside that wasn't a starling or a pigeon.  We live across the street from a four-story apartment building, and when I looked out the window, low and behold perched on the  corner of said building was a huge bird of prey.  The call that I heard was actually a Blue Jay freaking out at the sight of it.   I grabbed my binoculars and ran downstairs to observe it.  All the Sunday afternoon shoppers were passing by on Queen and I kept pointing and saying "Check THAT out!"  

One guy stopped and said that it was a pergrine falcon, but I'm quite sure this weren't no peregrine, my friends, it was GINORMOUS (is there accepted spelling for words that don't exist?)   Anyway, it sat there for a few minutes being harrassed by the aforementioned Blue Jay and an apoplectic robin before casually taking off and loping away to the northwest.

Of course, I can't find my stinking Peterson's *anywhere* (I am *so sure* I brought it home from the cottage, but looks like maybe I didn't).  It was probably a juvenile something, as its colouration was non-descript and when it took off its wings were all ragged (inexperience at fighting off, um, blue jays I guess?) Gut says Red-Tail, as that's the most likely suspect, but what struck me was its absolutely *massive* beak.  Eagle?  Eagle? No, no, Julia, settle down.  Red-tail, red-tail, infused with a good dose of World Cup Fever and Sunday Afternoon Paralysis.  Anyway, still quite a sight for the impenetrable wilderness that is Parkdale.

Julia

[Ron Luft]

Coulda been the whiskey, mighta been the gin, but look at the size a that thing. Try the library at Queen and Cowan, think its still there, they otta have some book or something that might help. Let us know if you make up your mind. We can't leave it as a UPR. (unidentified perched raptor). Any colors to help, size comparison/guess?

[Napper]

This is one of the best sites on the net. I use it quite often, sometimes not often enough. The site provides actual images and is very helpful when one or all of my guides don't cut it.  " PETERSON A FIELD GUIDES TO HAWKS"  is also very good option.. I got a copy from "Ebay"  copyright 1987 for 99 cents.

Napper :lol:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

[David the park stroller]

Or it could have been an osprey... They're quite pale and definitely "gi-normous!" I watched one today out over Humber Bay and the western beaches. First I've seen here in town although I know them well from Eastern Ontario. [There's a spectacular accessible nest near the big hydro plant near Bath Ontario on the way to Kingston.] BUT on second thought, I've never seen one "perching" in the city.

[Julia]

We considered osprey, since we didn't see any yellow in its beak and we're close enough to the lake, (especially since someone saw one at Humber Bay) but it wasn't so black and white.  If I had to describe it, i'd say "generally brown".  Of course, I got *way* too excited (my knees were all shaky, even) and now with some time I've managed to blow it all out of proportion in my brain.  It was as big as a house!  Its beak was three times the size of its head!  It shot laser beams out of its eyes and spoke to me in the Voice of God!  

I get way too excited to make a decent birdwatcher.

All I can say with certainty is "too big for a peregrine".  No barring on the tail, really no distinguishing marks that I could see.  Brown, and big.

Settle down dear, you'll work yourself all into a tizzy.
Julia

[gb_eh]

There is a Red Tailed Hawk that lives in the Parkdale area and can often be found on Tyndall Ave (South of King / East of Dufferin). Ive bee n told this raptor nest at or around the Medieval Times building in the Ex grounds...