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Another raptor at Elkhorn Slough, California (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter djleahy
- Start date
djleahy
Well-known member
Hi Gentoo,
That would be my guess (if you forced me to make a guess), as I see nothing in the picture that doesn't match an adult harrier. However, this guy is sitting on the top of a very tall power line tower, and I've read (and seen) that northern harriers tend to stay much closer to the ground in flight and in perching. But there are always exceptions, right?
DaveL
It doesn't seem to have the owlish face of a Harrier, and it seems unlikely one would perch that high. It appears to have black on the shoulder, as if it were a juvenile White-tailed Kite, but the head appears to be dark. I would expect to see some dark on the belly if it were a Red-tailed Hawk, but it seems pretty clear underneath. I guess I need a few more pixels to identify it.
Robert / Seattle
Well-known member
May be going out on the limb here, but ...
Plain gray overall. Looks like a bit of a black "Zorro" mask. Short, hooked bill --- I'm thinking Adult Mississippi Kite.
Last edited:
Gentoo
Guest
Honestly that occurred to me too but I didn't want to say that for fear of the reactions I'd get for suggesting such a thing.
Robert / Seattle
Well-known member
That makes two of us. Let's sit back and wait for the reprimands to begin!
Robert / Seattle
Well-known member
Perhaps, but I do think the white breast of the White-tailed Kite would be rather obvious nonetheless. And Sibley does show spot records for the Mississippi Kite in your area.
The Falcon
Registered Birder
White tailed kite looks like it would fit. Black on the shoulders says White tailed kite but would have to have a better picture to make a positive ID.
prairiemerlin
registered guy
It's far too bulky for a kite - looks more like some weird phase of a Red-tailed Hawk to me.
neil g.
neil g.
djleahy
Well-known member
Its perch is best matched for a Red-Tailed Hawk. But I had a lot of trouble getting there from my picture, which is why I posted. Our red-taileds are pretty dark out here, so it's a puzzle for me. However, I don't think the picture is good enough to really support any of the more exotic suggestions.
On this walk, we saw red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, red-shouldered hawks, and northern harriers. Oh, and turkey vultures, and kestrels. And one weird grayish bird. I even saw a fight between two kites and a red-tailed hawk, presumably a territorial skirmish. Not a bad day for raptors.
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