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Aplomado falcon - probable ID
Hi, over Thursday and Friday PM I have twice seen what looks for all the world like an Aplomado Falcon in the vicinity of Jacaranda Country Club (Friday) and Nob Hill and SR-84 (Thursday) in Broward County. The bird appears to be about 1&1/3 to 1&1/2 times larger than an American Kestrel. It is both darker and silent with athletic direct flight, sharply pointed wings, head is about even with wrist on wings - no hovering, not Kestrel like behavior in any manner. Appears to be a bird hunter by behavior not looking into grass etc. for lizards, insects etc. . Wings are very long for anything I usually (have ever seen) see here in Fla.
It is Absolutely not an Accipter of any kind nor a Buteo of any kind. Too large with too great a wingspan and too slow (faster than a Kestrel, not as fast as a Merlin) to be a Merlin. Of course it is NOT a Peregrine, I have seen loads of them and this bird is too small and slow for that.
This might be a gift from Michael..... If it is an Aplomado I would send it back to Texas if it would bring even one victim back from that tragedy.
Good Luck!
Grover
Comments
Any photos?
No photos, but I did have very good looks at under 200 feet -- was driving on Nob Hill Thurs. Was able to stop and watch for 15 seconds or more near the country club. If I had pix I'd not have used "probable". On the other hand if anyone is truly bored it is worth looking for. Both wings and tail were longer than Kestrel. Could not be Peregrine or Prairie Falcon, I know them and Kestrels are smaller. Not as "solid/muscular" as a Merlin; I've seen loads of them too over the years. This was "odd" as in I'd never seen one before..... If I see it again I'll drop another line. BTW -- we do have both Sharp Shinned and Cooper's Hawks in the area - I see them at odd intervals (even over the summer a couple of times) - usually the Jays cue me on them both.
Not seen since Friday....
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