bitterntwisted said:I've watched quite a few in the last few weeks,.. seen them most days,.. and I ain't seen one like that. I don't think that's a Marsh Harrier, but I'm b#####ed if I know what it is. I look forward to the opinions of others. Did it fly like a Marsh Harrier?
J Moss said:I just looked up a Harris Hawk on google, and the white belly does match with your bird.
Megaquetzal said:Anyone missing a Harris Hawk?!!
its not a swainsons a swainson is an accipiter not a buteo,initially it looks like a harris hawk but its white tips arnt evident on the tail,im a bit lost whats the chances of you getting out there and getting some better pics?Bird Hard 2 said:Well, it doesn't look much like a Marsh Harrier, or at least 100% Marsh Harrier.
I can't escape the feeling that it looks rather Swainson's Hawk like (or at least a Buteo), especially the head, but don't recall ever seeing one like this! The white belly would be far more extensive on Swainson's Hawk, and both the tail and wings are un-barred which throws out a lot of other alternatives.
I'm totally stumped on this one!
shortwing said:its not a swainsons a swainson is an accipiter not a buteo,
I agree, the middle pic of the three looks especially Marsh Harrier-like (less the white!!)Frenchy said:The uneven distribution of white in the plumage, plus the fact it doesn't match up to anything else, points to the fact that its a leucistic bird. This is a dark juv Marsh Harrier with some white bits!