Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Whitemarsh Township near Flourtown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Birds of a Feather

 
 
Birds of a Feather Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 13, 2014
1. Birds of a Feather Marker
Inscription.
Identifying raptors (birds of prey) in flight can be difficult. However, even novice hawk-watchers can figure out which family a raptor belongs to. Most raptors migrating past this hawk watch site fall into one of three families: buteos, accipiters or falcons. Each family has unique wing and tail characteristics that help the birds fly in a specific manner.

(1) Buteos
• Have long, broad wings, a chunky body and a short, fanned-out tail
• Soar for long periods without flapping their wings
• Includes the red-tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk and red-shouldered hawk

(2) Falcons
• Have long, pointed wings and a long, narrow tail
• Fly through constant, strong flapping
• Includes the American kestrel, merlin and peregrine falcon

(3) Accipiters
• Have short, rounded wings and a long, narrow tail
• Move through a series of flaps and glides: flap-flap-flap-glide
• Includes the sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk and northern goshawk

Be a Raptor Ranger
Conduct your own hawk watch! Use your eagle eye to spot buteos, accipiters and falcons, and count how many of each family you spy.

(captions)
(left) Red-tailed hawk
(center) 1: Red-tailed Hawk; Broad-winged Hawk; Red-shouldered
(upper right)
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
2: Peregrine Falcon; American Kestrel; Merlin
(lower right) 3: Sharp-shinned Hawk; Cooper ’s Hawk; Northern Goshawk
 
Erected by iConservePA, DCNR, Hawk Mountain.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AnimalsEnvironment.
 
Location. 40° 7.235′ N, 75° 13.357′ W. Marker is near Flourtown, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. It is in Whitemarsh Township. Marker is on State Park Road, 0.3 miles south of Militia Hill Road, on the left when traveling south. Located at the Militia Hill Hawk Observation Tower in Fort Washington State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 Militia Hill Road, Fort Washington PA 19034, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. On the Wing (here, next to this marker); Is That an Eagle? (here, next to this marker); Helping Hands (a few steps from this marker); Hope Lodge (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Hope Lodge (approx. half a mile away); Fort Washington (approx. 0.8 miles away); Whitemarsh (approx. 1.6 miles away); St. Peter's Church (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flourtown.
 
Also see . . .
1. Militia Hill Hawk Watch. (Submitted on September 16, 2014.)
Militia Hill Hawk Observation Tower image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bernard Fisher
2. Militia Hill Hawk Observation Tower

2. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. (Submitted on September 16, 2014.)
3. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (Submitted on September 16, 2014.)
4. iconserve Pennsylvania. (Submitted on September 16, 2014.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=77173

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 19, 2024