Confirm ID - Red-tailed Hawk? Round Rock, TX, US (1 Viewer)

erisian.pope · Sep 6, 2010

Taken today, in a field near a pond. I see the short tail / long wings (so Buteo). I see the red "shoulders" on the leading edge of the undersides of the wing, I see a reddish tail and head, and I think I see windows on the wings (separating the first few primaries from the rest of the wing). I see speckling, but that's kind of near the head as opposed to being on the belly, which made me think Swainson's at first.

Thanks!
Christian

EDIT: Added another shot that shows the tops of the wings and the face.

peachfront · Sep 6, 2010

yes, it's a red-tailed hawk

When under the buteo, I always look first for the patagial marks. Nice photos.

Microtus · Sep 6, 2010

The red tail and the patagial marks (i.e. the black highlights on the leading edge of the underwing near the body mark the bird as a Red-tailed Hawk. The speckling on the underside is in the correct place for Red-tailed Hawk as well.

ceasar · Sep 7, 2010

This could be a "Fuertes" (B. j. fuertesi) sub species or race. For those interested, it fits the description in Wheeler's Western Edition at page 321. Particularly "WINGS (ventral).-White or pale tawny with a large dark brown patagial mark."

And yes, nice photos indeed!
Bob

erisian.pope · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you all for the confirmation. And thanks for the comments on the pictures. I got lucky that the bird circled low for a bit. My lens is pretty mediocre (canon 55-250) and bird shots always push its capabilities.

Confirm ID - Red-tailed Hawk? Round Rock, TX, US (1 Viewer)

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erisian.pope

very amateur

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peachfront

Well-known member

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

ceasar

Well-known member

erisian.pope

very amateur

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