hawk or osprey? Redmond, WA, USA (1 Viewer)

[david.margrave]

This bird was hanging out in the top of a pine tree near its nest. The nest itself is at the crown of a dead tree, probably 100 feet tall, the top of which got knocked off at some point. I'll get a video which has its call uploaded to google video, in the meantime here are a couple pictures. I thought it was a hawk of some kind but some passersby said it was an osprey.

I was trying to get a good picture, so it wouldn't look like just a silhouette against the sky, so i tried various settings.

 

[Terry O'Nolley]

Looks too broad and too short of a tail for an Osprey. Shape is more Buteo-ish.

 

[david.margrave]

I just got a PM that it's a red-tailed hawk.

Here's an in-flight silhouette, and a link to a google video of it perched in a tree, you can hear the call at the end.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7742758752990839328

 

[Harlequinduck]

It is a hawk and a Buteo for that matter. From the photo's shadowing it is hard to I.D. further but from what I can see of the beak size I'd guess it to be a Rough-leg Hawk
JB

 

[Terry O'Nolley]

I couldn't see anything in the video - but the call at the end identifies it 100% as a Red-tailed Hawk (a member of the genus Buteo).

 

[david.margrave]

yeah, it's in the top of the tree in the center of the frame. you can see it move its head just slightly towards the end of the video. I knew I wouldn't get a good video with my camera's limitations, it was mainly the call i was after.

thanks,
dave

 

[david.margrave]

well here is where it is if any of you seattle birders with great cameras want to go get some great pictures.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...22.126167&spn=0.000759,0.001481&t=h&z=19&om=1

 

[KC Foggin]

I lightened it a bit and I see traces of a belly band so I would guess Red-tailed Hawk

 

[jmorlan]

The photos all look like Red-tailed Hawk to me. Certainly not Osprey or Rough-legged.

 

[Harlequinduck]

It is a hawk and a Buteo for that matter. From the photo's shadowing it is hard to I.D. further but from what I can see of the beak size I'd guess it to be a Rough-leg Hawk
JB

Posted before the flight photo and didn't see the video so I retactthe Rough leg and agree with red tail.