Why are the C. Sparrowhawk & B. Goshawk so similar?

[David Adams <>]

> 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.