Thanks, everyone for your replies. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you!
Also, I don't know how to reply & quote everyone in my email, so I just hit "reply" to the last post! Thanks everyone!
In response to your questions:
1. No, it was not the open ocean, it was a very industrial area just outside NY, but still with a lot of grasslands & waterways.
2. Yes, it was the Meadlowlands area.
3. It seemed to be heading Northwest.
4. "hawk-like" referred to it's body & head shape. I believe the beak was curved like that of a hawk - that was my distinct impression.
5. I looked up pictures of all your suggestions: most of these birds were too small, and the two tailfeathers were very, very long and free-flowing. The scissor/swallow tails are too short and stiff. The Wydah comes closest, but the color is wrong - this bird was brownish, with no white at all. Plus, it was a medium/large bird - these other birds seem quite small, unless I'm not understanding the pictures well.
6. The feathers of this bird seems to be "rough", not smooth like these smaller birds that I'm seeing in your suggestions.
I suppose this means that this creature is not native to NJ/NY area, and must have escaped captivity....
Should we keep trying to figure this out?
