This comparison of nesting adults — E2 and Hope — no longer applies. On the afternoon of 16 March 2016, E2 was found dead in Friendship. By 23 March, Hope had found a new mate named Terzo.
Click here for a comparison of the new pair, Terzo and Hope, as of 6 April 2016.
Meanwhile …
… can you tell who this is?
Good luck!
(photos from National Aviary snapshot cam at University of Pittsburgh)
Looks like E2 to me. The band looks silver and from this pic feathers look a bit darker.
It’s Hope – 69/Z leg band
E2 Based on the markings on the side of the head.
Hope. I based it in her back color and then I cheated a little by reading her left leg band.
Hope?
I am so glad Hope decided to stay !!!! And I am anxiously awaiting our little ones! But I must say I miss Dorothy. I had followed her for several years and enjoyed her taking care of her family. The last two years were heartbreaking but she did her best as a good Mother would do ! Looking forward to many years with Hope and her families !!!
I’m going to guess … Hope? That band on her left leg looks green (though in the image above it looks like the one on their right leg is highlighted?), I think I see a bit of white underwing on the right wing, and though it’s hard to tell in this photo, it looks like there’s little contrast between the back and wingtip color … I think? =)
I hope that it is HOPE. Green band on leg.
Just for fun I’ll guess. I think it’s Hope!!
Good one! Very hard to tell these two apart. I’m going to go out on a limb, and say E2. Thanks for the great info Kate!
(Probably should have went with my first gut instinct that it was Hope)!!Very interesting, so happy they have eggs.
Hope ! 🙂
I’ve been watching (mostly) Hope on camera all through February (often daily) on the wild earth archives, and E2 didn’t show up on camera till the end of the month (at least for the videos I viewed…) I remember thinking “what’s wrong with Hope?” when I saw him. He was definitely smaller, and his head was smaller and more streamlined somehow. Like Kate says, it’s hard to explain, but after enjoying Hope’s visits to the nest for so many days, I can usually tell them apart by size. When I can’t be sure, I end up checking the bands.
I feel like it’s E2… I can’t read what’s on the band
It’s Hope. One thing that I personally notice on her face is she has more distinct white marks directly above her nostrils than E2. He doesn’t have that. Of course, this while thing gets thrown out the window when trying to ID them at night.
Thanks for all your answers identifying the bird in the photo. Donna is right. This is Hope and the best way to tell her apart is by reading her bands.
Hope. One other characteristic in some falcon pairs is the slight difference between the female and male’s top of head. Many females have a flater cap compared to the rounded cap of the male. You can see this in this photo. Dorothy had the same look. So does her daughter Beauty vs Dot.ca (DC) in Rochester, NY. Of course I also saw the 9 on the upper part of band.
A note for those who ID’d this as Hope by the green band on her leg, please be aware that in the test photo, her right leg with the green band is not visible. The visible left leg has a black over green band, which E2 also has, but the numbers are different as noted in Kate’s blog. E2’s right leg band is silver, Hope’s right leg band is green.
Greenish band = Hope
It’s E-2. The color above the beak is more orange than yellow.
So sad to read the news about E2. My heart is breaking for this beautiful couple. I hope it was alright to leave this message here.
You say you cant help Hope, with her eggs, or giving her food. I do agree, however you did give medical help to last years chick. And you do band them. Can you explain. Thank You.
David, the explanation is complicated — and long! I am writing it but other news has intervened. Stay tuned
I can’t even begin to guess who this is. Everyone seems to be guessing Hope, so I guess I will say so also! When do we find out? Today sure was an eventful day! Hopefully tomorrow we will get a peek at the potential mate! I was wondering if the two birds she had today were gifts from the suitor? Thanks, Kate