Goshhawks with an open mind - yours

Dear reader,
I could have saved time and space by abbreviating the words: soaring, flapping, and gliding - to become S,F,G. My idea of writing the words in full was to let the words become more noticeable and possibly more valuable in their expression. There are about 800 species of birds in North America, and it has been said that every bird moves its wings in a different manner. I would think we can classify many birds by the way they hold their wings, not only in a glide, but also as they soar.

To take it one step further, we can use a device to record the wings in action. This step is dependant upon the lighting conditions and the distance to the bird. Once we gather that information, we certainly will need a computer program to analyze the information. Remember: there are 800 species of birds in North America.

Once a Northern Goshawk (NG), or (it might be a Cooper's Hawk) moves its wings: that bird gives-up information leading to the identification of the bird. And the device doing the interpretation is our eyes and brain. And again, as long as the lighting and the distance is not prohibitive. This is why the single word 'flapping' is so important in my reports.

I think you can take this to the bank - Cooper's Hawks cannot move their wings in a relaxed manner. This is for sure - NG have 3 modes of flight (wing movements): active flight, with deep wing beats; active flight, with shallow, snappy wing beats; inactive flight (leisure flight) with deep, relaxed wing beats, or inactive flight, with wing beats that are not so deep.

There are more than 18 parameters that I can use, that help to identify NG (in flight). If you use coloring, on the ventral area of accipiters, in order to make an identification: in most cases , are you are working with accepted procedures, (but in some cases) watch- out!