I was driving near Annapolis, Maryland this past weekend and I saw a large bird flying above me that looked quite distinctive. I was not able to get a photo, but if I had to guess, I would say it was about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk and was black , but could have just been a dark color. What really stood out was the tail. The tail was very long and at the end of it, attached the rest by a narrow strip was a small triangle. Not a fan shape, but a triangle. This is the second bird I've seen with this feature. Is anyone aware of any birds with this characteristic? I would appreciate any help and am eager to ID this bird. Thanks!
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Bird with triangle at end of tail around Annapolis, Maryland, United States (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter zschagrin
- Start date
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
I don't know what you saw, but can assure you that no bird in North America has a long tail with a triangle at the end. Perhaps it's a bird with something artificial stuck to it, streaming along behind as it flies?
By the way, what kind of a flier was it? Quick beats, or slow? Constant flapping, or soaring?
By the way, what kind of a flier was it? Quick beats, or slow? Constant flapping, or soaring?
nartreb
Speak softly and carry a long lens
There are a number of birds that trail their feet behind them in flight. If the foot was splayed, it could look triangular. (If both feet were close enough together, you might only notice one triangle.)
Another possibility is that the triangle was some kind of ID tag or part of a radio transmitter attached to the bird.
Another possibility is that this was a hunting bird, and you saw the jesses (a sort of leash attached to the leg).
Finally, there are some exotic birds that have quite funky tails that might fit the description, but I can't think of anything in that size range, and the larger the bird, the less common it will be as a pet, so I think we should consider other options first, especially if you think you saw two different birds.
Going through that list, I'm having trouble fitting your "very long tail" - it sounds like you saw a long tail, *then* a thin strip and a triangle. Accipeters have fairly long tails - was the bird hawklike?
Oh, wait. There's a completely different possibility. Annapolis may be a clue.
The military is experimenting with very small drones camouflaged as birds. Did you see this bird flap its wings?
Another possibility is that the triangle was some kind of ID tag or part of a radio transmitter attached to the bird.
Another possibility is that this was a hunting bird, and you saw the jesses (a sort of leash attached to the leg).
Finally, there are some exotic birds that have quite funky tails that might fit the description, but I can't think of anything in that size range, and the larger the bird, the less common it will be as a pet, so I think we should consider other options first, especially if you think you saw two different birds.
Going through that list, I'm having trouble fitting your "very long tail" - it sounds like you saw a long tail, *then* a thin strip and a triangle. Accipeters have fairly long tails - was the bird hawklike?
Oh, wait. There's a completely different possibility. Annapolis may be a clue.
The military is experimenting with very small drones camouflaged as birds. Did you see this bird flap its wings?
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I think you may be right about the drone theory. I did not see the bird flap its wings and I just looked up what some of the drones look like and I'm pretty sure that its what I saw. Here's a link to what I think I may have seen: http://www.businessinsider.com/army-drone-like-a-bird-attacked-by-hawk-2013-6
Thanks a lot for your help!
Zack
Thanks a lot for your help!
Zack
I saw a pair of birds with long white tails and a dark triangle at the end of it. They were high in the sky, but looked about the size of a hawk. I live near little river canyon in Fort Payne, Al. I have looked all over trying to find another bird like that in all my books, but was unable to. The triangle was too far down the tail to be feet. They had to be a pair, they were flying together. Any ideas?
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