This cache is located along Martin Count’s Hawk’s Hammock Nature and Equestrian Trail System and can be accessed via the newly created Public Access & Parking area at the end of Green Farms Road. Since its namesake is that of Hawks and the other caches already in this area are named for hawks, I thought I’d continue the theme of a series of caches to some of the most common hawks around the world.
The crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) is a bird of prey from tropical Asia. It is related to other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards (or buteos) and harriers, and thus placed in the family Accipitridae. Adults are plain dark grey-brown above. Note the crest. This raptor has short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to maneuvering through trees. It is 30–46 cm in length, with the female much larger than the male. The larger size and a short crest, clearly visible in profile, are the best distinctions from its relative, the besra Males have a dark brown crown, grey head sides and black moustachial and throat stripes. The pale underparts are patterned with rufous streaks on the breast and bars on the belly. The larger female has a browner head and brown underpart streaks and bars. The juvenile has pale fringes to its head feathers, and the underpart background color is buff rather than white. The flight is a characteristic "slow flap, slow flap, straight glide".