sbutk Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Hi, I was quite surprised to spot this young hawk just nonchalantly sitting on the rail of our deck yesterday morning (northern NJ). I’m pretty sure it’s a immature accipiter. Would anyone be willing to decide whether Sharpie or Coop? Unfortunately the tail is not in view, so I’d be interested to know what other field marks you use to make the ID. Thanks, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Looks like a Coop to me. Those thick streaks along the breast plus the GISS of this bird makes it feel like a Coop to me. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted September 22, 2022 Author Share Posted September 22, 2022 12 minutes ago, Aidan B said: Looks like a Coop to me. Those thick streaks along the breast plus the GISS of this bird makes it feel like a Coop to me. Sorry, GISS? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 (edited) I agree with Coop. The bill is relatively big and the top continues the line of the bill more or less smoothly--the bill doesn't jut out from the face. Also the legs are substantial--no sharp shins here. I believe a Sharpie would also have more rufous streaking. Edited September 22, 2022 by Jerry Friedman malapropism 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 GISS is "general impression, size, and shape" or "general impression of shape and size" or something. It was probably invented to explain the older term "jizz", the qualities of a bird that you can't put into words but help you identify it. Or to replace "jizz", a term some people aren't comfortable with. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted September 22, 2022 Author Share Posted September 22, 2022 Thank you, both. I agree with your ID ...especially after reading this page, which you may find as incredibly informative as I did. http://wing-tips.blogspot.com/2017/12/sharp-shinned-and-coopers-hawks.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigOly Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 I think GISS was used in WW1 to try to identify friendly or foe aircraft. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 12 hours ago, Jerry Friedman said: GISS is "general impression, size, and shape" or "general impression of shape and size" or something. It was probably invented to explain the older term "jizz", the qualities of a bird that you can't put into words but help you identify it. Or to replace "jizz", a term some people aren't comfortable with. One's a written acronym, the other is a way of pronouncing it. Either way, it's a technical-sound substitute for 'experience'. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 14 hours ago, BigOly said: I think GISS was used in WW1 to try to identify friendly or foe aircraft. I've heard that, but I've looked for evidence and haven't found any, and so have other people. 5 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: One's a written acronym, the other is a way of pronouncing it. Either way, it's a technical-sound substitute for 'experience'. Other way around, I suspect--one's a word of unknown origin, the other is an acronym made up to explain it. An interesting thing about that experience from a birding point of view is that people do sometimes put a name to it. For instance, the Cooper's Hawk's "mean expression", compared to a Sharp-shinned Hawk, comes from its heavier brow ridge and its smaller eye in proportion to its head. But still, experienced birders can recognize a bird before any words have had a chance to go through their mind. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Thomas 2.0 Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 19 hours ago, Jerry Friedman said: GISS is "general impression, size, and shape" or "general impression of shape and size" or something. It was probably invented to explain the older term "jizz", the qualities of a bird that you can't put into words but help you identify it. Or to replace "jizz", a term some people aren't comfortable with. I thought it was derived from the word "gestalt", but can't say where I recall getting that impression either... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.