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

[erisian.pope]

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]

yes, it's a red-tailed hawk

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

 

[Microtus]

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]

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]

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.