sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Hi, Can anyone help ID this small, extremely quick raptor (I’m making that assumption.) It was flapping constantly (not the flap-flap-flap-glide pattern of a Sharpie). Makes me think it might have been a Kestrel or Merlin, but I’d certainly be interested in anyone’s thoughs. Photo is from today in northern NJ. P2760565e1 by sbutk, on Flickr Thanks! -Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… *** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 I think it's a Mourning Dove with that pointed tail...but it's hard to see. I could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 3 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: I think it's a Mourning Dove with that pointed tail...but it's hard to see. I could be wrong. Really? Wow, I sure didn't get that impression. But yeah, the distant shot doesn't help. It went by in the blink of an eye, so I didn't have time to zoom and this pic is heavily cropped already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Sure looks like the doves that go screaming above my yard, esp. the continuous flapping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Mourning Doves are really fast and can easily fly more than 50 miles per hour. They’re one of the most aerodynamic backyard birds I can think of. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivalis Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 4 hours ago, akandula said: Mourning Doves are really fast and can easily fly more than 50 miles per hour. They’re one of the most aerodynamic backyard birds I can think of. Didn’t know that, learn something new every day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 5 hours ago, Nivalis said: Didn’t know that, learn something new every day Same here. Thanks, everyone! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 I mistake doves and pigeons for falcons ALL THE TIME, particularly if I’m driving and only have seconds to view. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 2 minutes ago, blackburnian said: I mistake doves and pigeons for falcons ALL THE TIME, particularly if I’m driving and only have seconds to view. Oh yeah, me too. Pigeons can really look like Peregrines sometimes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 3 minutes ago, blackburnian said: I mistake doves and pigeons for falcons ALL THE TIME, particularly if I’m driving and only have seconds to view. Good, now I don't feel like SO much of an idiot. Haha. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 1 minute ago, The Bird Nuts said: Oh yeah, me too. Pigeons can really look like Peregrines sometimes... Really surprising, since up close on the ground, pigeons seem totally different in terms of shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 OK, but what about *this* one? (Please don't tell me I can be a sucker 2 days in a row, haha!)P2760790e1 by sbutk, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 (edited) Geez, don't you have any birds in NJ that fly below 2000 feet? I feel better about this one. The tail appears to be more squared-off and less pointed. The wings appear longer, and the wing tips appear pointier and less rounded. Don't ask me for a species. Of course, I could be completely full of guano. Edited April 5, 2020 by Charlie Spencer 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 10 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Geez, don't you have any birds in NJ that fly below 2000 feet? I feel better about this one. The tail appears to be more squared-off and less pointed. The wings appear longer, and the wing tips appear pointier and less rounded. Don't ask me for a species. Of course, I could be completely full of guano. Haha. Yeah, I just tend to get "bored" seeing the same feeder birds over and over again. I love hawkwatches in the fall, so I guess my eyes just naturally go upward. Saw something *quite* interesting this afternoon. Unfortunately it zoomed off beyond the trees so fast, my Autofocus never had a chance. ...Anyway, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if species is next to impossible with this one. Looks like an falcon to me, but I don't think I'd venture beyond that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darknight Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 looks like a small falcon, probably either a Kestrel or Merlin for the 2nd photo. I agree with Mourning Dove for the first. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 On 4/9/2020 at 8:14 PM, darknight said: looks like a small falcon, probably either a Kestrel or Merlin for the 2nd photo. I agree with Mourning Dove for the first. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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