Hawk ID Help In Wisconsin (1 Viewer)

[birdman000]

Hello,

Took these pics at a marsh in Wisconsin last weekend and any help would be appreciated.

I also saw other Red-tails and Rough-legged hawks but don't know if any of the ones in the pictures are these types.

Thanks again.

 

[AlexC]

I don't know if these hawks are each different individuals (more info?), but pic2 looks like Rough-legged; 3, 4, and 5 Red-tailed, and 1 is a weird angle that may be answered if it's the same individual as any of the other pics.

 

[B Lagopus]

The field marks for today are:

1) Broad, dark subterminal bands on the tail.
2) Dark carpal patches ("wrists") on the underside of the wing
3) The appearance of a "white necklace" along the upper belly/breast line, separating dark belly from dark bib.

For extra credit, note how thin the branch is that raptor is sitting on in photos 4 & 5...

 

[lou salomon]

B Lagopus has it (is it)

 

[lassa8]

I'd say pic 3 is a Red-tailed and the rest show Rough-legged Hawks

 

[ceasar]

I tend to agree with Lassa8. The middle bird looks like a RTH. I'm curious about the significance of the thin branch the RLH is sitting on in #4 and #5 that B. Lagopus offers for extra credit. RLH's have small feet but weightwise they are about as big as RTH's.
Bob

 

[birdman000]

I don't know if these hawks are each different individuals (more info?), but pic2 looks like Rough-legged; 3, 4, and 5 Red-tailed, and 1 is a weird angle that may be answered if it's the same individual as any of the other pics.

Sorry about that. There are 3 birds there. The 1st 2 pics are the same bird and the last two pics are the same bird.

So it seems the 1st and 3rd bird are rough-legged hawks? Adults? I saw other juvies and those were easier to id with the dark wrist patches.

Thanks for the help.

 

[dtpavlik]

It is very characteristic of Rough-legged Hawks to sit, or at least try to sit, on very thin branches.

 

[AlexC]

Cool - RL, RT, RL - I can work with that.

 

[ceasar]

It is very characteristic of Rough-legged Hawks to sit, or at least try to sit, on very thin branches.

Very good! I didn't know that. It's probably because there aren't too many large trees in their home territory, I would guess. We don't get them too often in my area. There were 3 that were wintering about 50 miles south of me very recently. I was planning a drive to see if I could locate them but I fell on the ice and threw my back out so my birding is limited to my deck right now.
Cordially,
Bob

 

[birdman000]

Hello again,

I just have one more question. How did you all determine the second hawk is a Red-tail? I suck at IDing hawks and would like to know how you all decided which hawk it was. When it flew away, I didn't see any reddish color on its tail nor a streaked belly-band as it sat perched. So did you decide by just overall look and that it couldn't be anything else or what?

Thanks (just trying to improve my ID skills)

 

[AlexC]

Hello again,

I just have one more question. How did you all determine the second hawk is a Red-tail? I suck at IDing hawks and would like to know how you all decided which hawk it was. When it flew away, I didn't see any reddish color on its tail nor a streaked belly-band as it sat perched. So did you decide by just overall look and that it couldn't be anything else or what?

Thanks (just trying to improve my ID skills)

Hawk2 I see a Buteo in Wisconsin with non-feathered legs (anti-Rough-legged), white breast (RTs can have limited to no belly-bands), and a brown, variably patterned head. Perhaps someone else can shed light on what else points to Red-tailed.

 

[ceasar]

Pic 2 still looks like an RLH to me. Are you sure you don't mean pic3?

Bob

 

[ceasar]

Alex and Birdman,
Pic2 still looks like an RLH to me. Are you sure you don't mean Pic3?

Bob

 

[birdman000]

Alex and Birdman,
Pic2 still looks like an RLH to me. Are you sure you don't mean Pic3?

Bob

Sorry again about the confusion. The first two pics are the same bird- a Rough-legged hawk. I was talking about the Red-tail hawk (pic 3) on top of the powerline pole.

And thank you Alex for the additional information.

 

[AlexC]

Alex and Birdman,
Pic2 still looks like an RLH to me. Are you sure you don't mean Pic3?

Bob

Hey Bob,

I specifically said "hawk2" referring to the second hawk individual, pic3. Sorry if there was confusion.