Goshawk? (1 Viewer)

[jeffs55]

I am in middle Georgia USA and I think that I have a bunch of northern goshawks hanging around. They are either flying or perched high in trees making it hard to get a picture for ID purposes. They are mostly gray on top and light colored underneath. I have seen as many as nine in one tree which I thought was pretty amazing. I looked on Google and see that GA is not in their range but can't find anything else it might be. Help.

 

[Butty]

Either Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk.

 

[KenM]

Hi jeffs55,

9 Accipiters in one tree sounds like quite a party for such a (generally) solitary species.

Too big for a family group makes you wonder what’s going on?

I’ve seen 3 juvenile (1 female and two males together with a visiting parent on one occasion, but a gathering of nine!...I’m intrigued😮👍

Cheers

 

[Butty]

How about a bunch of whatever sort of jays you've got there mobbing one adult Cooper's hawk?

 

[jeffs55]

How about a bunch of whatever sort of jays you've got there mobbing one adult Cooper's hawk?

Not jays, they are all the same type bird of prey. They have rather long tails like a third or so of body length. Definitely birds of prey.

 

[jeffs55]

Either Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk.

They do not have any noticeable red or orange on them. But as I noted to someone else, they do have a longer than normal tail. They could be immature but nine in one tree? The could not all be the same family, could they?

 

[Butty]

The could not all be the same family

Correct, they couldn't - if they're accipiters.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Correct, they couldn't - if they're accipiters.

Are Broad-winged Hawks moving yet?

 

[bhutjoe]

There being 9 in one tree suggests a vulture, but then they have short tails and the colours your mention would not seem to match. Hoping you get a photo
steve

 

[KenM]

Presume you’ve discounted Northern Mockingbird as a candidate?

Cheers

 

[jeffs55]

Presume you’ve discounted Northern Mockingbird as a candidate?

Cheers

Not mockingbirds, these are hawks.

 

[jeffs55]

Either Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk.

 

[jeffs55]

Correct, they couldn't - if they're accipiters.

 

[jeffs55]

That is nearly all I have ever see. They are either in flight against a bright sky or in this dead tree. I have seen a couple on my back fence but they fly off so fast I can't get a camera. I know it is a crappy pic but at least it shows nine and a body outline, sort of.

 

[birdboybowley]

They look like Mississippi Kites

 

[rkj]

I agree they look like Mississippi Kites.

 

[ryckfour]

Three for Mississippi Kites - much more typical social behaviour (cf Goshawk)

 

[Microtus]

Four for Mississippi Kites

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Mississippi Kite fits. Clearly not accipiters in the picture.