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Posted by Brent Caperton on 14:48:40 02/03/06
In Reply to: Re: Could it be an Aplomado Falcon? posted by Bill Pranty
: Hi Barry,
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: Nobody else has chimed in yet, so I'll be the first. I'm sure I'll get flamed ...
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: 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).
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: 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!
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: Best regards,
:
: Bill Pranty
: Avon Park, Florida
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