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Posted by Bill Pranty on 11:49:53 12/12/07
In Reply to: Great Black-Hawk correction posted by Rock Jetty
You are correct; nice catch.
The fact that that the Great Black-Hawk is a sedentary resident from northern Mexico south through Middle America to northern Argentina and Uruguay (AOU 1998) should dispel any thoughts that the Florida birds are natural vagrants.
A non-migratory bird would be as unable to fly across the Gulf of Mexico as much as a non-swimmer would be able to swim across it.**
Plus, the Crandon Park Zoo was known to have various exotics in the 1960s and 1970s (such as Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Great Kiskadees [!], and Red-crested Cardinals -- and I'm not even mentioning the amazing waterfowl assemblage present now due to recent releases), so one has to wonder whether they ever had Great Black-Hawks as well...
**Finally, I'll reiterate out that there is no verifiable evidence (photos or specimens) that the Virginia Key _Buteogallus_ are Great Black-Hawks. Including the sole bird photographed, the birds have been identified as both Great Black-Hawk and Cuban Black-Hawks.
It would be great if somebody could get photographs of the birds so that we could at least agree on their identity.
Best regards,
Bill Pranty
Bayonet Point, Florida
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