My understanding is that the white morph of the Grey Goshawk was able to
survive in a forest situation where it stands out like the proverbial
because it resembles white coloured cockatoos. I don't know if there is any
science behind that claim though.
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
0266493153 0429601960
-----Original Message-----
From: David Adams
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 9:26 AM
To: David Adams
Cc: COG line ; Birding-Aus
Subject: [canberrabirds] Why are the C. Sparrowhawk &
B.Goshawk so similar?
An all white raptor in the forest?
John Leonard wrote to mention the White Hawk, an unusual New World forest
raptor:
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=124796
Despite often being nearly all white, these birds seem to be doing pretty
well for themselves over a huge area. The behavior section at the Cornell
site is interesting. it sounds like these birds follow around parties
of monkeys (arboreal foragers) and coati (ground foragers - relatives
of Raccoons) pouncing on whatever prey is flushed. Perhaps their coloration
is not selected for/against as they're opportunistic feeders? No
idea...it's always easy to make up an evolutionary/ecological story...but
that doesn't make it true.
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