Hawk on pacific coast mexico (1 Viewer)

[Steve.Jonesy]

Hi
Can anyone help me to identify this bird
Taken in the Sierra Madre near Porta Valletta Mexico
Many thanks

 

[Chris Benesh]

This looks good for a duller example of a juvenile Gray Hawk. Darker examples have buff instead of white cheeks and eyebrows. Structure, large bill with dark feathering on forehead rule out a similarly patterned Broad-winged Hawk.

A similar example: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/6...79.889549233.1542414897-1908399866.1538285703

Chris

 

[ceasar]

Agree with Chris,

It looks very much like the juvenile Gray Hawk pictured at Plates 225 and 226 in Wheelers "RAPTORS Of Western North America." A note at the bottom of the pictures states that the pictures were taken in Nayarit, Mexico.

Bob

 

[Steve.Jonesy]

Thanks you guys really loving the birding in Puerto Vallarta

 

[njlarsen]

One dissenting voice: doesn't this raptor have a very long tail for a buteo?

Niels

 

[Steve.Jonesy]

So what else do you think it could maybe be?

 

[jmorlan]

It has a rather Accipiter-like shape, but it doesn't seem to fit any Accipiters that might occur in the area. Gray Hawk juveniles are much longer tailed than adults. The narrow white band on the uppertail coverts is probably diagnostic for juv. Gray Hawk. Also the tail banding with the dark bars becoming progressively narrower towards the base is good for Gray Hawk. Head pattern and the rest of the plumage seems to fit. I cannot think of anything else it might be. Compare my photos of juv. Gray Hawk in California.

 

[njlarsen]

I will join the crowd in saying Gray Hawk. It is good to see another example of this species showing such long a tail, something I could not remember from my own encounters with it.

Niels

 

[Steve.Jonesy]

You guys are amazing!
Thanks