Zone-tailed Hawk in the Americas almost perfectly mimics the "harmless" Turkey
Vulture - with regards to shape, plumage pattern and flight stile. The most
common hypothesis is that this allows the ZtH to surprise its prey (apparently
not only birders but also the prey have to have a closer look to pick out a ZtH
from a TV flock!). [However there are also physical explanations for the
similarity - with the prey surprise only as a welcome side effect]
Cheers,
Nikolas
----------------
Nikolas Haass
Sydney, NSW
________________________________
From: Goodfellow <>
To:
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:20:21 AM
Subject: White phase Grey Goshawk
________________________________
I have seen this bird flying with a flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, and
also with Little Corellas. One launched itself out of the flock onto
unsuspecting Bar-shouldered Doves sitting on wires below. I also have a photo
of a White Goshawk perched on a rock at Bardedjilidji, Kakadu NP, along with
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
Denise L Goodfellow
On 14/04/2009 6:57 PM kbrandwood wrote:
Hello everyone, How many of you have seen the white phase of the Grey Goshawk
flying with a flock of Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. I saw it once when I lived in
Baulkham Hills, the goshawk leaving the flock and perching in a photographic
position for me. HANZAB mentions this behaviour but gives no reason for it.
Last Thursday at my home I watched a group of ravens harassing a white bird
which I called immediately a white goshawk.due to the harassing actions of the
ravens. It perched high in a tree above the house and I ran in to get my camera
and took a couple of shots. I did not have my bins handy so could not confirm
the ID of the bird as it was very high,my wife confirmed it with her bins.As it
left the tree chased by the ravens I immediately said to my wife that's not a
goshawk its a cocky as the flight was that jerky flight often performed by S C
Cockatoos during short flights and is very characteristic of this species.
However I was not convinced and
had a look at the pics and there it was a white phase of the Grey Goshawk. My
Qs is could it be that flying with other white birds is a hunting ruse to
surprise its prey and could this mimicking of the flying action of the
SCCockatoo be to the same end. Anyone else wittinesses these two behaviour
patterns ?
keith b the beautiful Hawkesbury 60km N/W of Sydney
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