Dark Buteo in San Dimas, CA (1 Viewer)

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Feb 17, 2020

• #1

Hi all. On a little rarity hunt this morning in San Dimas's Horsethief Canyon Park, I missed my target bird but came across a dark Buteo. My first assessment is an early migratory dark morph Swainson's Hawk. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

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C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Feb 17, 2020

• #2

The short wing tips compared to the length of the tail troubles me about it being a Swainson's. How about a Dark Morph "Western", B. j. calurus, Red-tailed Hawk?

Bob

 

Last edited: Feb 17, 2020

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Feb 17, 2020

• #3

ceasar said:

The short wing tips compared to the length of the tail troubles me about it being a Swainson's. How about a Dark Morph "Western", B. j. calurus, Red-tailed Hawk?

Bob

Click to expand...

Could well be. It seemed lanky and it was perched side by side with a Red-tailed at one point and appeared a bit thinner and smaller - but could be within variation or male/female difference.

A friend of mine has a better camera with photos that he's gonna lighten up. I'll post those once he sends.

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Feb 17, 2020

• #4

Lightened photos from a better camera:

 

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ceasar

Well-known member

• Feb 17, 2020

• #5

I think, with the lightened and improved photos, (which can also be enlarged) I will have to stick with a Dark Morph "Western" RTH. There isn't enough wing length for a Swainson's Hawk. In picture #2, if one looks hard at it, it also shows some scapular markings typical of a RTH.

Bob

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Feb 18, 2020

• #6

I reviewed Wheeler and Clark’s examples of dark morph RTH too and it looks like that’s the best bet. Thanks, Bob!

 

Birdbrain22

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2020

• #7

FWIW... I agree with dark Western Redtailed.