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Posted by Bill Pranty on 22:55:58 02/02/06
In Reply to: Could it be an Aplomado Falcon? posted by Barry Heimlich
Hi Barry,
Nobody else has chimed in yet, so I'll be the first. I'm sure I'll get flamed ...
In a word or two, there is virtually no chance of an Aplomado Falcon being seen in Florida. There is only one individual in a registered zoo or breeding facility anywhere in the world (in Texas) and it doesn't seem to be a popular falconer's bird (since it feeds on birds and small mammals), so an escapee is extremely unlikely. And the chance that a wild bird from nw Mexico or the Texas coast could vagrate to se Florida is so small as to be almost unthinkable.
Also, the description of the bird being "very dark grey" overall except for the head seems to clearly rule out an Aplomado Falcon, which has a white throat and breast, buffy underparts, and a black-and-white banded tail. (Although in the next paragraph, the bird is said to have a "snowy white breast" so I'm not sure what to make of the description).
As far as what the bird could have been, I can't say, as the description is too vague. It seems to be some sort of raptor, but the description doesn't even limit the bird to being an Accipiter or falcon or even a Buteo!
Best regards,
Bill Pranty
Avon Park, Florida
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