PLEASE HELP DISTINGUISH THIS EAGLE OR HAWK (1 Viewer)

[Amalachi88]

in a bit of a debate with a coworker of mine he had sent me a picture of this bird and is trying to convince me it is a bald eagle. Although I am familiar with the age progression of a bald eagle and know that they can have darker feathers and a darker beak I have noticed that this bird has a short week and the percentage of white that is in his feathers does not match the percentage of gold that would be in an adolescent or young adult bald eagle. My better guess was a red tail hawk based on the color patterns and the familiar white stipe above eye area will include two photos they’re not the best but pretty sure someone can give a better answer

 

[Ted Y.]

Why only capital letters in tiltle?

 

[Amalachi88]

Why only capital letters in tiltle?

Sorry was always taught grab the readers attention in the first few words bold sometimes works to show compassion or energy invested in the subject

 

[Ted Y.]

Sorry was always taught grab the readers attention in the first few words bold sometimes works to show compassion or energy invested in the subject

The readers attention can have also negative conclusions.
Like me in this situation.

 

[Amalachi88]

Why only capital letters in tiltle?

Any thoughts on this bird though?

 

[Butty]

Welcome to BF.
Could you give the location and date, please? This should always be given as it very often helps, or may be essential for, an ID. Thanks.
Assuming it's somewhere in N America, probably red-tailed hawk, as you suggest; immature. It's not a bald eagle, eg bill is much too small.

 

[KC Foggin]

Well I don't believe it's an Eagle or a Red-tailed Hawk. Not with all the frontal marks. I'm gonna go with Sharp-shinned Hawk.

 

[KC Foggin]

By the way, a warm welcome to you to BirdForum and please join in wherever you like

 

[Amalachi88]

By the way, a warm welcome to you to BirdForum and please join in wherever you like

Thank you for the warm welcome I will post location details now so everyone can make their best informed guess

 

[Microtus]

Welcome, Amalachi! Your bird is neither Bald Eagle nor Sharp-shinned Hawk. It is probably an immature Red-tailed Hawk as Butty said.

 

[Amalachi88]

Welcome to BF.
Could you give the location and date, please? This should always be given as it very often helps, or may be essential for, an ID. Thanks.
Assuming it's somewhere in N America, probably red-tailed hawk, as you suggest; immature. It's not a bald eagle, eg bill is much too small.

The date was December 6th in Gardiner New York

 

[nartreb]

Most definitely not a bald eagle. It's a buteo hawk, and as others have said it seems to be an immature red-tail. The photo doesn't permit me to be fully confident that it's not, say, an immature red-shouldered hawk, but based on that single photo as evidence, red-tail is a better fit. (The upper breast seems to be un-spotted, which would be unusual for red-shouldered.) Plus, red-tailed is by far the most common hawk in that area.

 

[Butty]

immature red-shouldered hawk

Would have contrastingly-barred secondaries which would probably show in this photo - but don't.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Another for Red-tail.