Migrant Raptor ID, SE PA (1 Viewer)

MLoyko

d[-_-]b

• Sep 27, 2012

• #1

Hi all,

It's been a while. I need some help. A friend of mine got this shot while conducting the hawkwatch at Bake Oven Knob here in PA. It was counted as a young Red-tailed hawk but something is saying Red-shoudered to me. It could just be the angle and the sun. But wanted to here some opinions.

Thanks,
Matt

 

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Larry Lade

Moderator

• Sep 27, 2012

• #2

Looks like a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk to me.

 

merryslug

Well-known member

• Sep 27, 2012

• #3

Great shot

 

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Sep 27, 2012

• #4

I agree it's a fantastic photo. Having googled images I agree with the ID, and with field experience limited to one escaped adult Red-tailed, I'd be in no position to question it! Just for my own education though, what features ID this as Red-tailed and rule out juv Swainson's for example?

 

ospr3y

Osprey Fanatic

• Sep 27, 2012

• #5

Swainson's is out of range.

The stocky proportions, short wings, and wide (compared to Red-tailed) tail banding make me more inclined towards young Broad-winged Hawk.

Not my photos, but compare:
Broad-winged: http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/images/Photos/buteplat.jpg
Red-tailed: http://jimburnsphotos.com/media/Red-tailed-Hawk-juvenile-li.jpg

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Sep 27, 2012

• #6

Hi,

I agree on GREAT SHOT, juvenile... but not a Red-tailed for me. Shape of wings excludes it too y eyes. I'm not sure for Broad-winged, but sounds much better guess to me.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Sep 27, 2012

• #7

it seems to have just 4 fingers...juv BWH seems right: http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/Images/Birds/Broad-wingedHawk2_8385.jpg

 

C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Sep 28, 2012

• #8

Agree on juv. Broad-winged Hawk. Looks like it has 4 fingers. There is a very, very similar picture at plate 241 in Wheeler's "Raptors of Eastern North America." In the Western Edition it is at plate 263. This picture was taken in September.

Bob

 

MLoyko

d[-_-]b

• Oct 6, 2012

• #9

Thanks everyone I'll pass on the message. As for the Swainson's hawk being out of range this shot was taken at one of the hawkwatch locations along the kittatinny ridge. Swainson's has been report in counts past as well as mississippi kite, gyr falcon, and rough-legged hawks at either our count (bake oven knob) or hawk mountain. Two years ago one of the watches (waggoner's gap) had a swallow-tailed kite. Anything is possible on the lookout haha.