Dark Morph Buteo (1 Viewer)

Vipers

Brunswick Birder

• Nov 3, 2014

• #1

Whilst visiting Circle B Bar Reserve in Central Florida on the 23rd Oct I noticed a dark morph Buteo kettling with the vultures and other raptors. Being new to birding in Florida I just assumed it was a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk and it wasn't until I was reading my Sibley Guide that night, that I realised that dark morph Buteos are quite rare in Florida.

According to Sibley the only dark morph Buteo that occurs regularly in Florida is the Short-tailed Hawk. I was just wondering how accurate this is and how often birders in Florida actually see dark morph Buteos?

It would be good if birders in Florida could report these dark morph Buteos on this thread to help build up a pattern.

 

C

csanchez7

Well-known member

• Nov 3, 2014

• #2

I see dark morph Short-tailed Hawks in southern Florida frequently (about 50% of Short-tailed Hawks I see are dark morph) from around September through March. They should all be south of Lake Okeechobee by now, though.

Carlos

 

S

stonechat1

New member

• Nov 4, 2014

• #3

Can you exclude a Snail Kite, Gary?

 

Vipers

Brunswick Birder

• Nov 4, 2014

• #4

stonechat1 said:

Can you exclude a Snail Kite, Gary?

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Hi Stonechat.

Yes it was definitely a Buteo, dark body and under wing coverts, pale barred secondaries and primaries with dark trailing edge and fingers. Unfortunately I can't remember the tail pattern, I think it was pale with a dark subterminal band.

 

Pauhana

Well-known member

• Nov 7, 2014

• #5

I just checked Ebird. Yes could have been a DM Short Tail. One reported on 11/2 and 11/4 at same location. Always a good find. We are lucky to have several nesting pairs over in Pinellas County, FL

 

Vipers

Brunswick Birder

• Nov 7, 2014

• #6

Pauhana said:

I just checked Ebird. Yes could have been a DM Short Tail. One reported on 11/2 and 11/4 at same location. Always a good find. We are lucky to have several nesting pairs over in Pinellas County, FL

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We spent a day at Fort de Soto. What a superb place!

 

Pauhana

Well-known member

• Nov 8, 2014

• #7

Feel very lucky to have Ft De Soto just 20 min from home. You should come back in mid to late April for spring migration