Posted by Dan Roberts on February 23, 2013 at 11:49 AM
Need some help on this one. Didn't get a view of it flying or from behind. I can't figure it out based on reference photos.
Posted by Mia McPherson on February 23, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Looks like a juvenile Red-tailed to me.
Posted by Brian Gatlin on February 23, 2013 at 1:22 PM
yes--it's a Red-tailed Hawk--that nice belly band is a good mark for a perched bird.
Posted by David Graham on February 23, 2013 at 2:46 PM
Yep! The totally yellow iris of the eye and the visible tail bands peg this as a juvenile. After its 2013 molt its tail will be brick red to reddish brown with scant or no hints of banding, and the iris of the eyes will have begun darkening in the lower arc and be fully dark brown all the way around within the next 18 to 24 months.
When the image appeared my first hough was: " I wonder if this is from B.C.,OR AK. That almost totally brown head has seemed to me to be far more common in red-tails up in the far "Pacific Northwet" than in the more mid-latitude parts of their range. Any comments in agreement or otherwise from folks who have spent a lot more time up in God's Country than I have?
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Posted by Nick Baldwin on February 23, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Kinda looks like the fabled Red Headed Hawk........(-: but yes I concur with above.
Had a pair mate and nest in our neighborhood. Thought they preferred heavier woods. The Red-shouldered is always in town, but the Red-tailed seldom in our part of town.
have a good weekend.
Posted by Dan Roberts on February 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Thanks for the responses. This guy was shot in WA at Ridgefield NWR by the way.
Discussion
5 repliesWhen the image appeared my first hough was: " I wonder if this is from B.C.,OR AK. That almost totally brown head has seemed to me to be far more common in red-tails up in the far "Pacific Northwet" than in the more mid-latitude parts of their range. Any comments in agreement or otherwise from folks who have spent a lot more time up in God's Country than I have?
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Had a pair mate and nest in our neighborhood. Thought they preferred heavier woods. The Red-shouldered is always in town, but the Red-tailed seldom in our part of town.
have a good weekend.