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What could this bird be? - Portland, OR USA (1 Viewer)

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coltrv

Well-known member
I saw this bird in my backyard in Portland, OR on February 26, 2020. The wing shape seems weird to me. I think it soared like a hawk/vulture, I don't recall if it wobbled. Its wing shape doesn't seem like a hawk, and seems a little weird for a vulture. However, I suspect it's just a turkey vulture. I know the photo is pretty bad, but does anyone have any idea of what it is based on its wing shape?
 

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It's not holding its wings in the way turkey vultures usually do, and the head shape doesn't look like a turkey vulture to me. In flight, a turkey vulture's head looks really small compared to the body.

Can't see much beyond that it's dark and it's got the wing shape of a larger bird. Why not golden eagle?
 
You can see a white wing patch to the underwing coverts, this would be more likely on a juv. Bald Eagle, certainly doesn’t look like a Turkey Vulture.

Cheers
 
Maybe. It seems pretty uniformly dark, but that doesn't rule out a first-year Bald. Maybe even second-year, since the photo is blurry enough to hide some white marks.

But I really don't know. See if anybody else comments.

Edit: Ken posted while I was typing. I was replying to coltrv's second post.

I'm not sure I see the white patch Ken sees, but he's got some experience with blurry overhead photos, so if he sees it, it's probably there.
 
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nartreb said:
Maybe. It seems pretty uniformly dark, but that doesn't rule out a first-year Bald. Maybe even second-year, since the photo is blurry enough to hide some white marks.

But I really don't know. See if anybody else comments.

Edit: Ken posted while I was typing. I was replying to coltrv's second post.

I'm not sure I see the white patch Ken sees, but he's got some experience with blurry overhead photos, so if he sees it, it's probably there.
Click to expand...

The “apparent” white to the starboard underwing, could well be a low sun highlight...thus Goldie it may be.

Yours forever blurred. :t:
 
Wing shape seems off for a gull. But I am willing to be convinced if someone can come up with a clear gull holding its wings like that.

Niels
 
I seem to see pale axillaries on at least one side, in both bright sun and shadow.

Although I think this bird has a full crop, making the head/neck look deeper than normal, I still think the bill is huge enough for a Bald Eagle.
 
tom baxter said:
That was my first impression. I don’t think it looks like an eagle of either species but I wouldn’t claim to be sure.
Click to expand...

I considered it too - color is very tempting for a young gull. I decided head/neck shape didn't feel right, nor wing shape. But it's a tricky angle, and the photo is not clear enough to draw any real conclusions.
 
nartreb said:
I considered it too - color is very tempting for a young gull. I decided head/neck shape didn't feel right, nor wing shape. But it's a tricky angle, and the photo is not clear enough to draw any real conclusions.
Click to expand...

Agree. Looking again I think it is probably an Eagle.
 
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