Could it be an Aplomado Falcon?

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Posted by Barry Heimlich on 11:00:35 02/02/06

Broward Audubon was contacted recently by an experienced out-of-towner from the Pacific Coast who believes she may have seen an Aplomado Falcon in Greynolds Park. Her description of it is very good including the prominent white eye stripe and with chest. Has anyone ever seen one in South Florida? If it's not that, what could it be?

Here are some quotes from her emails including descriptions and the location seen:

"We came in the main entrance off of Dixie. This road drives in towards the castle. Go to the first parking lot on the left before you get to the castle. Take the first footbridge towards the banyan trees. We saw the bird approximately 1/2 way between the bridge and the apartments which are at the back edge of the forest. It was up in a tree on an extended dead branch looking over the water. The tree was on our right as we came into the "clearing." We proceeded a bit past the tree (moving towards the apartments) so that we could observe the bird from his/her left side."

"It did appear large to me- it was hard to get a clear read on size - since it was on a pretty high branch. It was definitely not Kestrel/Merlin sized. From where I stood, (s)he looked like the usual strong predatory bird, sort of broad shouldered, bulky through middle, a very strong looking bird. Almost no movement from her/him at all."

"The thing about this bird is that it was definitely white above the dark eye /moustachial stripe. In fact, from where I stood I could not even see the dark crown, so it just looked all white above the dark stripe. Otherwise, the bird was very dark grey. He never moved the entire time we were there, and we had a clear view of him (from the side, while he was perched on a high branch) for an extended period."

"I'm certain it was not a peregrine, as I have been watching peregrines intensively for the last year here in SF. The bird I saw in Greynolds did not have the helmet I am accustomed to seeing in peregrines, but instead had a distinctive pale white eyebrow and a snowy white breast. These markings also rule out the other predatory birds you have mentioned, which are also present in northern California, although I personally have not seen a Sharp-shinned out here myself. I was stunned while looking at this bird, and the Aplomado is the only thing I have found thus far that would fit this bird's appearance."

Broward County Audubon Society

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Comments:	: Broward Audubon was contacted recently by an experienced out-of-towner from the Pacific Coast who believes she may have seen an Aplomado Falcon in Greynolds Park. Her description of it is very good including the prominent white eye stripe and with chest. Has anyone ever seen one in South Florida? If it's not that, what could it be? : : Here are some quotes from her emails including descriptions and the location seen: : : "We came in the main entrance off of Dixie. This road drives in towards the castle. Go to the first parking lot on the left before you get to the castle. Take the first footbridge towards the banyan trees. We saw the bird approximately 1/2 way between the bridge and the apartments which are at the back edge of the forest. It was up in a tree on an extended dead branch looking over the water. The tree was on our right as we came into the "clearing." We proceeded a bit past the tree (moving towards the apartments) so that we could observe the bird from his/her left side." : : "It did appear large to me- it was hard to get a clear read on size - since it was on a pretty high branch. It was definitely not Kestrel/Merlin sized. From where I stood, (s)he looked like the usual strong predatory bird, sort of broad shouldered, bulky through middle, a very strong looking bird. Almost no movement from her/him at all." : : "The thing about this bird is that it was definitely white above the dark eye /moustachial stripe. In fact, from where I stood I could not even see the dark crown, so it just looked all white above the dark stripe. Otherwise, the bird was very dark grey. He never moved the entire time we were there, and we had a clear view of him (from the side, while he was perched on a high branch) for an extended period." : : "I'm certain it was not a peregrine, as I have been watching peregrines intensively for the last year here in SF. The bird I saw in Greynolds did not have the helmet I am accustomed to seeing in peregrines, but instead had a distinctive pale white eyebrow and a snowy white breast. These markings also rule out the other predatory birds you have mentioned, which are also present in northern California, although I personally have not seen a Sharp-shinned out here myself. I was stunned while looking at this bird, and the Aplomado is the only thing I have found thus far that would fit this bird's appearance."
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