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--_a98ba0ab-4837-40d4-adb1-b9e8b1861154_
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Hi all:
=20
In checking National Geographic=2C "Field Guide to Birds of North America t=
hey state as Ian mentioned that tail long: note that in perched bird=2C ta=
il extends far beyond wingtips. I should have mentioned that in the bird s=
een by Dorothy=2C the Keneficks and myself the wings were more broad-based =
then one would expect or see in a peregrine falcon. This gives the bird a =
chunky appearance. Also the tail was somewhat broader than that of a pereg=
rine. With seeing a dark phase pergrine there of the Labrador race I am st=
ill convinced that the bird we had was indeed a gyr and not a large peregri=
ne. We did see a large peregrine earlier in the day=2C which I ruled out a=
s a gyr=2C but that was an entirely different bird. I'm not sure how many =
peregrines were actually on the island as I saw two at once at North Light.=
Prior to that I had seen another and I spotted one which lit out over the=
ocean. During the day we had spotted peregrines off and on at different l=
ocations on the island=2C so conceivably there could have been four or five=
separate peregrines about. In seeing the peregrines so often we had ample=
study time and the bird we saw at Pond Cove stuck out as definably differe=
nt from a peregrine. I'm sorry considering the weather that I did not atte=
mpt to get a photo of the bird. I was so taken with the bird and in having=
such a close look=2C with ample time to study it and I was trying to make =
sure that we made a correct id and did not err that I did not even think ab=
out my camera.
=20
Sincerely=2C
=20
James
=20
> Date: Tue=2C 30 Sep 2008 12:28:19 -0300> From: iamclar@DAL.CA> To: nature=
ns@chebucto.ns.ca> Subject: [NatureNS] Tail length in Gyrfalcon and Peregri=
ne> > Hi All:> > I thought I'd add my two cents worth=2C without judging si=
ghtings by others.> > I have always found it odd that David Sibley should s=
tate Gyrfalcon is> "relatively long-tailed." This is true if one uses wing =
extension as a> criterion=2C as shown in his fine paintings of perched bird=
s. But that is because> of relatively longer wings=2C not shorter tail=2C i=
n the peregrine.> > Overhead=2C Gyrfalcon does appear short-tailed and shor=
t-winged relative to young=2C> dark Peregrines. (That's another problem=2C =
because some of our eastern> peregrines are darker than they "should" be be=
cause of infusions of West Coast> stock during reintroductions.) The tail o=
f Gyrfalcon does appear short=2C that> is=2C relative to the rest of the bo=
dy and head. (You can actually get this from> Sibley's paintings by measuri=
ng tail lengths from undertail coverts on perched> birds or from back of wi=
ngs on flying ones compared with length of the rest of> the body to tip of =
head.) And this is accentuated beyond the actual difference> in relative ta=
il length because Gyrfalcons have notably broader closed tails> compared wi=
th Peregrines. So=2C altogether=2C they appear much chunkier than dark> you=
ng Pergrines. The set of photos URL'd by Blake Maybank immediately strikes>=
one as depicting a typical=2C long-tailed young Peregrine.> > And=2C by th=
e way=2C I too have sometimes made the mistake of confusing the two -> then=
later having second thoughts and scratching my record.> > Cheers=2C Ian Mc=
Laren>=20
_________________________________________________________________
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Hi all:<BR>
 =3B<BR>
In checking National Geographic=2C "Field Guide to Birds of North America t=
hey state as Ian mentioned that tail long: =3B note that in perched bir=
d=2C tail extends far beyond wingtips. =3B I should have mentioned that=
in the bird seen by Dorothy=2C the Keneficks and myself the wings were mor=
e broad-based then one would expect or see in a peregrine falcon. =3B T=
his gives the bird a chunky appearance. =3B Also the tail was somewhat =
broader than that of a peregrine. =3B With seeing a dark phase pergrine=
there of the Labrador race I am still convinced that the bird we had was i=
ndeed a gyr and not a large peregrine. =3B We did see a large peregrine=
earlier in the day=2C which I ruled out as a gyr=2C but that was an entire=
ly different bird. =3B I'm not sure how many peregrines were actually o=
n the island as I saw two at once at North Light. =3B Prior to that I h=
ad seen another and I spotted one which lit out over the ocean. =3B Dur=
ing the day we had spotted peregrines off and on at different locations on =
the island=2C so conceivably there could have been four or five separate pe=
regrines about. =3B In seeing the peregrines so often we had ample stud=
y time and the bird we saw at Pond Cove stuck out as definably different fr=
om a peregrine. =3B I'm sorry considering the weather that I did not at=
tempt to get a photo of the bird. =3B I was so taken with the bird and =
in having such a close look=2C with ample time to study it and I was trying=
to make sure that we made a correct id and did not err that I did not even=
think about my camera.<BR>
 =3B<BR>
Sincerely=2C<BR>
 =3B<BR>
James<BR><BR>
 =3B<BR>
>=3B Date: Tue=2C 30 Sep 2008 12:28:19 -0300<BR>>=3B From: iamclar@DAL.=
CA<BR>>=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=3B Subject: [NatureNS] Tail=
length in Gyrfalcon and Peregrine<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Hi All:<BR>>=3B <=
BR>>=3B I thought I'd add my two cents worth=2C without judging sightings=
by others.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B I have always found it odd that David Sibl=
ey should state Gyrfalcon is<BR>>=3B "relatively long-tailed." This is tr=
ue if one uses wing extension as a<BR>>=3B criterion=2C as shown in his f=
ine paintings of perched birds. But that is because<BR>>=3B of relatively=
longer wings=2C not shorter tail=2C in the peregrine.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B=
Overhead=2C Gyrfalcon does appear short-tailed and short-winged relative t=
o young=2C<BR>>=3B dark Peregrines. (That's another problem=2C because so=
me of our eastern<BR>>=3B peregrines are darker than they "should" be bec=
ause of infusions of West Coast<BR>>=3B stock during reintroductions.) Th=
e tail of Gyrfalcon does appear short=2C that<BR>>=3B is=2C relative to t=
he rest of the body and head. (You can actually get this from<BR>>=3B Sib=
ley's paintings by measuring tail lengths from undertail coverts on perched=
<BR>>=3B birds or from back of wings on flying ones compared with length =
of the rest of<BR>>=3B the body to tip of head.) And this is accentuated =
beyond the actual difference<BR>>=3B in relative tail length because Gyrf=
alcons have notably broader closed tails<BR>>=3B compared with Peregrines=
. So=2C altogether=2C they appear much chunkier than dark<BR>>=3B young P=
ergrines. The set of photos URL'd by Blake Maybank immediately strikes<BR>&=
gt=3B one as depicting a typical=2C long-tailed young Peregrine.<BR>>=3B =
<BR>>=3B And=2C by the way=2C I too have sometimes made the mistake of co=
nfusing the two -<BR>>=3B then later having second thoughts and scratchin=
g my record.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Cheers=2C Ian McLaren<BR>>=3B <BR><BR><=
br /><hr /> </body>
</html>=
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