Accipiter Alert

On at least 6 occasions, I have observed Northern Goshawks with what I call "Goshawks with expressed recessive genes". In Tucson, winter 2000-01, I went for the first time, to the parking lot of Costco on Grant. Within 20 minutes a mature female Goshawk presented. The bird came over head at elevation of about 200 feet. The lighting conditions were excellent.This bird had red vermiculation on the belly, chest, and under wing coverts.

In Rockport, Texas - winter 2002-03: I had many sightings, over a 4-month period, of the same mature female Goshawk. This bird had a dark gray dorsal area. The chest, belly, and under wing coverts were red-orange.

In February 2005, in Anacortes, Washington: 1 mature female Goshawk; elevation of bird about 300 feet. The lighting conditions were excellent. The bird was near over head. The chest, belly, and under wing coverts were red.

My 3 latest sightings of Goshawks with this condition; winter 2005-06, Tucson; 1 Goshawk; far off. In April, 2007; Anacortes, Washington, at close range over head; 1 mature male. In Goodyear, Arizona - 14 October 2007; 1 mature male.

In winter 2006-07, I had a brief meeting with 3 biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Michael Ingraldi (research biologist) Ph.D., informed me that at a Goshawk nest in Heber, Arizona, he had tried to trap a mature female at the nest. The bird was not to be trapped. The bird had a red chest and belly.

On a Christmas Bird Count in New Jersey, Pete Kwiatek and I saw a mature female Goshawk, pumping low over the ground. This bird had a pink throat and upper chest. This is a rare condition, but not unhead of.

Conclusion; if you are using field marks to identify accipiters - at times, you may be taking the wrong path.