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Swainson's Hawk - Juvenile? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter KAC
- Start date
The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
I don't see why this isn't a Swainson's. Four wing fingers, narrow banded tail, and narrow stripe in the middle of the throat don't rule out Swainson's...
In Alabama a Broad-winged Hawk is far more likely to be seen during the fall migration season than a Swainson's Hawk.
According to Wheeler's range maps in his "Raptors of Eastern North America" Migrating Broad-winged Hawks in Alabama and the other south eastern states are very common. See range map of the Broad-winged Hawk on page 214 of the Eastern Edition. Broad-winged Haawks are also common in Arkansas and Louisiana which are covered in the range map on page 253 of the Western edition.
Migrating Swainson's Hawks are very uncommon east of Houston, Texas. See their range maps on page 283 of the Western edition and on page 241 of the Eastern Edition.
2 extra limital sightings of Swainson's Hawks are noted around Mobile, Alabama in the range map of the Swainson's Hawk on p. 241 of the Eastern Edition.
According to Wheeler's range maps in his "Raptors of Eastern North America" Migrating Broad-winged Hawks in Alabama and the other south eastern states are very common. See range map of the Broad-winged Hawk on page 214 of the Eastern Edition. Broad-winged Haawks are also common in Arkansas and Louisiana which are covered in the range map on page 253 of the Western edition.
Migrating Swainson's Hawks are very uncommon east of Houston, Texas. See their range maps on page 283 of the Western edition and on page 241 of the Eastern Edition.
2 extra limital sightings of Swainson's Hawks are noted around Mobile, Alabama in the range map of the Swainson's Hawk on p. 241 of the Eastern Edition.
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The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
Yes, we realize that Broad-wingeds are more common.
I found an almost perfect match that is an intermediate morph Swainson's: https://download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/24902731/medium
Show me a photo of a juvenile Broad-winged that is this heavily-marked, especially around the wrist and breast areas.
I found an almost perfect match that is an intermediate morph Swainson's: https://download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/24902731/medium
Show me a photo of a juvenile Broad-winged that is this heavily-marked, especially around the wrist and breast areas.
gerdwichers8
Well-known member
..not to go into detail about the plumage..a BWH is a stubby looking bird in all aspects. It has short and wide wings, rather short tail and thick set head. Swainson's has long wings. The body and tail make it a long appearance; the head, moreover is, set appart in profile with the body, unusual small and narrow looking.
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tom baxter
Well-known member
Structurally this bird points towards Swainson’s as others have noted.
This photo has been ID'd as a juvenile Swainson's by a local expert. As someone speculated, we do have a majority of BW Hawks migrating at this time of year. But, every year we have witnessed a Swainson's Hawk or two; myself included. As with any questionable sighting, I always enlist and appreciate the help of others more experienced than I am. Thanks so much for the replies...
