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Subject:

Raptor ID question (D.C.)

From:

Janet Millenson

Reply-To:

Janet Millenson

Date:

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:02:23 -0500

Got a raptor ID question forwarded from a friend of a friend...

At the entrance to the McPherson Square Metro station earlier this week, he 
saw "a sizeable raptor munching on a small pigeon right there on the tile 
floor of the station." It had whitish mottling on its back and upper wing 
surfaces, a superciliary line, and fairly large bars across the tail. His 
thinks from its markings that it was an immature bird.

My guess is immature female Cooper's. Even an immature peregrine -- the 
likeliest downtown D.C. pigeon-pursuer -- would have that species' 
distinctive face pattern.

Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)

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"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot