Raptors: Merritt Island, Florida (1 Viewer)

[General Melchett]

Assuming photo 1 is an imm. bald eagle. Very unsure about the second. Red-shouldered hawk? Cheers

 

[aeshna5]

Bald eagle for sure. Less sure on other but suspect you're right with Red-shouldered.

 

[General Melchett]

Bald eagle for sure. Less sure on other but suspect you're right with Red-shouldered.

Not the best photo! Thanks aeshna

 

[Butty]

2. Presumably a Buteo. Not terribly like red-tailed hawk, but I wouldn't otherwise identify it. Any more photos? (including worse ones).

 

[KenM]

Looks like it might be a juvenile Snail Kite?

Cheers

 

[Butty]

juvenile Snail Kite?

Wings look to be too short relative to tail. And one might expect paler throat and big dark eye-patch. Difficult to trust thinness and shape of bill given the photo's low quality (no offence).

 

[KenM]

Wings look to be too short relative to tail. And one might expect paler throat and big dark eye-patch. Difficult to trust thinness and shape of bill given the photo's low quality (no offence).

Just look at the thinness of the bill, it’s kinda unique to the species, the relativity between tail and wings could very well be a photographic parallax illusion.

 

[THE_FERN]

Just look at the thinness of the bill, it’s kinda unique to the species, the relativity between tail and wings could very well be a photographic parallax illusion.

Yes I think it's this too

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Yes I think it's this too

me too

 

[General Melchett]

Wings look to be too short relative to tail. And one might expect paler throat and big dark eye-patch. Difficult to trust thinness and shape of bill given the photo's low quality (no offence).

Oh no offence taken … it’s a horrific photo

 

[General Melchett]

Thanks everyone. So a not-quite-confirmed snail kite?

 

[Butty]

Any more photos? (including worse ones)

 

[General Melchett]

Haha unfortunately not

 

[KenM]

FWIW GM, I’ve copied your original from camera to mobile and sharpened….

 

[Butty]

I’ve copied your original from camera . . .

You've photographed his photo?! I'll stick with the original, thanks.

 

[KenM]

You've photographed his photo?! I'll stick with the original, thanks.

Yes it’s best to stay safe!
I expect the sharpening process “in camera” exaggerated the bill shape…..😮

 

[tconzemi]

Wings look to be too short relative to tail.

Indeed, Snail Kite should have zero tail projection, bill may be an artefact but these wings are short

 

[KenM]

Indeed, Snail Kite should have zero tail projection, bill may be an artefact but these wings are short

I think the artefact lies in the tail to wing perspective, rather than the bill shape which in my eyes is outstandingly obvious….my money is on the front end.

 

[General Melchett]

Apologies everyone … managed to dig up two more (equally crappy) shots after much delving in the bin. Probably doesn’t make it any clearer but …

 

[Butty]

Barred secondaries = red-shouldered hawk. Not to mention (again) the dark throat.