W. North Carolina Buteo (1 Viewer)

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2018

• #1

Seen this evening in bottomland habitat over a small stream, pasture on one side, mature woods on the other. Of course, I was never able to get any other photos or the i.d. might be more straightforward. I want to say juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk but having a hard time ruling out juvenile Red-tailed.
Help!

and thanks-

Steve

 

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B

birdmeister

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2018

• #2

I lean towards Red-shouldered, especially considering the face on the first image.

 

T

tom baxter

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2018

• #3

birdmeister said:

I lean towards Red-shouldered, especially considering the face on the first image.

Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2018

• #4

Thanks, guys. I had a local experienced birder also go for Red-shouldered. Any consideration given to the widths of the tail band colors?

Steve

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Jan 31, 2018

• #5

The series of light bands on the secondaries is diagnostic for Red-shouldered Hawk.

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Feb 3, 2018

• #6

They seem apparent in my photo, Jim, but not all online pics of a juv. RSHA show those white lines so I guess I never paid them much attention. Thanks -

Steve

 

C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Feb 3, 2018

• #7

I agree with Jim M. Red-shouldered Hawk. You can see the checkering on the primaries (Pardon me, secondaries!)|:S| in the 1st and 2nd pictures and the narrow white tail bands in the same pictures.

Bob

 

Last edited: Feb 3, 2018

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Feb 3, 2018

• #8

My first thought as well

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Feb 3, 2018

• #9

Hamhed said:

They seem apparent in my photo, Jim, but not all online pics of a juv. RSHA show those white lines so I guess I never paid them much attention. Thanks -

Steve

Click to expand...

Would be interested to see an example of what you are referencing. There are lots of misidentified photos online!

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2018

• #10

The pale secondary barring is a good obvious feature for separating Broad-winged Hawk on a closed wing. However, wear would reduse the clearnes of this feature. Here's one from Feb:http://www.jeaniron.ca/2011/redshawkwhitby.htm And here's the pattern on eatch feather:https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/feather.php?Bird=RSHA_secondary_imm_female_bluebk

JanJ

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2018

• #11

One example of a site I used is Cornell's:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id
On this page, the first photo of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (photo 1 of 12) is shown next to a adult Red-shouldered Hawk (photo 1 of 8). The rear view of the Red-tail looks similiar to the bird in my photo.
What further confused me is the barely visible view of fine barring on the white of the upper chest in my third posted photo. Photo 4 of 12 on Cornell's site shows heavy markings in that area on the juvenile Red-shouldered.

JANJ, thanks for the links. The wet juvenile RSHA on the first site also shows those markings on the upper chest that appear more as spots than fine streaks.

Understand that I am not arguing any of the points made in this thread, just explaining why I was having difficulty in determining the species. Interestingly enough, in the next few days, I saw both adult Red-tailed and adult Red-shouldered near our house. Today, the cold and steady rain will likely preclude any more sightings if for no other reason than I will be positiioned close to the wood stove and watching the birds at our feeders!

Steve

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Feb 4, 2018

• #12

Hamhed said:

One example of a site I used is Cornell's:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id
On this page, the first photo of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (photo 1 of 12) is shown next to a adult Red-shouldered Hawk (photo 1 of 8). The rear view of the Red-tail looks similiar to the bird in my photo.

Click to expand...

The young RTHA in the photo you reference doesn't show the barring/bands we are talking about, and that a young RSHA does and is shown in the photos of your bird. I just want to make this clear because I know it took me awhile to see just what is being referenced. Also, though they may be worn as in the photos JanJ helpfully linked to, they should always be present

 

Last edited: Feb 4, 2018