Any accomplished birder would identify this bird as a Cooper's Hawk. Doctor Briefer, of course, knows better. This bird was photographed at Point Mugu, California, an area with a high dove density. While most birders/biologists/ornithologists see absolutely no correlation between Columbid abundance and goshawk distribution, there is actually a singular truth to be found..."you show me doves - and I will show you goshawks!".
"If you need binos to identify accipiters - then you certainly are not a hawk watcher." - Dr. Nelson Briefer
Most people know about the best bird blogger out there, but in case you don't, I humbly present to you Doctor Nelson Briefer. With no less than FOUR different blogs dedicated to preaching the gospel of how abundant Northern Goshawks are in urban areas, he is perhaps the world's leading expert on the species. He observes them ripping though the sky with his naked eye, and needs not bother with stupid photographs, for he has nothing to prove. He knows the self-proclaimed "experts" are full of it when they say goshawks are dependent on coniferous forest, for he has observed dozens of them in places like urban Tucson, AZ. He hates Sheri Williamson and Dennis Paulson. He bravely proclaims that "birders are wimps". He has seen goshawks with red underwings. He is, without a doubt, the last great hope for goshawks.
Did I mention goshawks are common in cities? Good. All of Doctor Briefer's goshawk publications are completely enthralling, but his current groundbreaking work can be found right here.
