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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