ML646660262

Observation details

heard a raspy repetitive screaming coming from the trees in the neighborhood SE of the dam area. Sounded like a raptor to me initially and very recognizable. I realized that it sounded like the Peregrine Falcons that nested in the Grand Canyon when I hawkwatched there. They were very vocal on territory and we heard them often. I heard one more series of calls a few seconds later and managed a pretty bad recording. I dont know, maybe im way off here and im not thinking of a more obvious species for the call. Certainly wasnt expecting to hear that this morning. UPDATE: upon finding some more parts of the recording with the bird audible (attached) im feeling that perhaps this is a Goshawk? the calls arent as consistently husky as im used to with hearing Peregrines. the calls seem too drawn out to be Merlin or Sharp-shinned. Wasn't getting any nasally sounding calls of a Cooper's Hawk. Of the likely buteos, the only thing I could find somewhat similar in cadence was Red-shouldered. However, the mixed in husky calls arent consistent with any recordings i can find of RSHA. In merlin, there is a recording of an American Goshawk call, second to last, from Idaho in April of 2009 by Nathan Pieplow. This seems to be a great match of what I was hearing. Repetitive, very loud (in the field it was obvious this was a loud bird far away), with a distressed-sounding quality to it. Listening to other Goshawk recordings they're capable of sound pretty husky as well, close to PEFA, which is how the bird sounded some of the time. While the three recordings came from different calling bouts, they all came from the same area. The shifting between husky and clearer, higher calls is making me lean Goshawk. Let me know your thoughts!