[Tweeters] Unknown hawk

[Jeff Gilligan]

What makes this “fun” is that we are looking at a siglne\ photo of a bird that is hunkered in the cold and rain, and a shot from the back, where a photo from the front would make it easy.   I note in this photo of an immature Red-tailed Hawk https://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/images/Red-tailed_hawk_juv_back_large.jpg <https://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/images/Red-tailed_hawk_juv_back_large.jpg>  the characteristic white “V” on the scalars that I always see on on immature Red-tailed Hawks, but not on the Fir Island hawk, which has scattered white edges.  I see the white “V” on Desert Red-taileds in Arizona, and our nesting birds in the PAC NW.  While driving I often see the “V” and don’t bother with the bird further. Note too, that this immature Red-tailed has a pale sere.   That the Fir Isaland hawk looks rather robust instead of long is perhaps that it is trying to keep warm and dry.  A single photo of a bird’s shape is often misleading.    Nothing like a singe photo to get us looking at details to discuss that we normally don’t bother with because the species is usually so obvious in the field.   Is a Red-shouldered Hawk a big surprise in the Puget Through?  I have never birded there except in route from or to BC.

Jeff Gilligan




> On Mar 12, 2022, at 12:37 PM, Diann MacRae <tvulture at gmx.com> wrote:

> 

> Hi, Tweets

>  

> My first "guess" at seeing the photo was immature redtail and it just doesn't fit the redshoulder descriptions. 

>  

> Cheers, Diann

>  

> Diann MacRae

> Olympic Vulture Study

> 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.

> Bothell, WA 98021

> tvulture at gmx.com

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