Hawk ID, Cameron Cty, TX, USA (1 Viewer)

[River Girl]

I saw this hawk today on the power post, near Resaca de la Palma. The all white breast and under is expected for White-tailed Hawk but the wing color is not right. Please id. Thank you

 

[nartreb]

It's either a pale-morph ferruginous hawk (juvenile, so no rufous thighs) or an extremely pale (Krider's type) red-tailed hawk. Both have been reported near that location this time of year on e-bird.

Any larger photos? We might be able to see faint spotting on the breast or thighs, which might help. (e.g a ghost of a belly band => red-tail; hints of a bib or thigh spots would be better for ferruginous)

 

[rkj]

Tarsi look to be unfeathered which would eliminate Ferruginous Hawk; Red-tailed Hawk for me.

 

[River Girl]

Thank you. I'll go with Red-tailed as the most likely.

It's either a pale-morph ferruginous hawk (juvenile, so no rufous thighs) or an extremely pale (Krider's type) red-tailed hawk. Both have been reported near that location this time of year on e-bird.

Any larger photos? We might be able to see faint spotting on the breast or thighs, which might help. (e.g a ghost of a belly band => red-tail; hints of a bib or thigh spots would be better for ferruginous)

Unfortunately I don't have other photos. We were just off the road in heavy traffic.

 

[River Girl]

It's either a pale-morph ferruginous hawk (juvenile, so no rufous thighs) or an extremely pale (Krider's type) red-tailed hawk. Both have been reported near that location this time of year on e-bird.

Any larger photos? We might be able to see faint spotting on the breast or thighs, which might help. (e.g a ghost of a belly band => red-tail; hints of a bib or thigh spots would be better for ferruginous)

Thank you for those tips. I'll use them when looking at other raptors.