Brazil, Pantanal, August, Hawk ID (1 Viewer)

[ugolino]

Dear all,

I am just back from a month in the Pantanal, and inevitably, I am confused about some birds.
I attach the first one, a hawk which i photographed in the Southern part of the Pantanal, in the State of Matto Grosso del Sud.
I have thought Bicolored or Sharp shinned, trying to imagine a different morph or a juvenile... but neither of these feels right..
Any assistance or idea would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance, ugolino

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks like Double-toothed Kite

Andy

 

[ugolino]

OMG !!! I never thought "Kites"...
I think you are right Andy !
Thank you so much, ugolino

 

[Jim M.]

Not sure what is, but I don't see a median throat stripe, nor the tail pattern I would expect for Double-toothed Kite. Also amber is the typical iris color for the species.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I agree about the tail pattern, median stripe can be hard to see but if these are labelled correctly I don't see many options?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d...UICSgC&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=OSCZmbU3euxuYM:

Andy

 

[KGS]

It's a Bicolored Hawk. Note e.g. long tail & structure in general and strong feet.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'd expect a capped appearance (head is uniformly gery what can be seen) and more barring on the breast for Bicoloured but tail length and pattern fits.

Is van Perlo misleading?

Andy

 

[Jim M.]

I'd expect a capped appearance (head is uniformly gery what can be seen) and more barring on the breast for Bicoloured but tail length and pattern fits.

Is van Perlo misleading?

Andy

The lack of dark cap bothered me also; plus, not really any photos I could find on the internet that match the underparts pattern.

 

[Andy Adcock]

The OP doens't look much like any of these?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d...isch&q=biccoloured+hawk&imgrc=5mlTLXu0HUbStM:

and here's one of my own though this is a juv it illustrates the capped look.

Andy

 

[Jim M.]

Bumping in the hope of more comments on this bird, which I find puzzling.

 

[ugolino]

Jim, Andy, and those interested,
My local guide (who was not 100% sure himself) inquired around and I now attach a page which he sent to me, from a guide book (which sadly I do not have details of) that shows different morphs/subspecies of the Bicolored Hawk...
I think it clears this up.
Best, Ugolino

 

[Andy Adcock]

Your bird has a pale grey top to the head, I'd expect it to be much darker on Bicoloured?

That page shows them all with blackish heads and your bird also has a very wide tail bar?

Andy

 

[THE_FERN]

Can't help with the id (best guess was bicolored but not satisfied this is correct for reasons stated), but the book is an edition of the helm guide raptors of the world by Ferguson-Lees & Christie (plate 50 in the version I have)