Hello from Orlando (1 Viewer)

[rayman]

Birder from WAY back. My wife and I captured on video a hawk that I can't identify and with the strangest call. Can anyone identify ??
View attachment 5CB3437D-D4C8-4CB4-83D0-5C452E1D2774.mov

 

[rayman]

View attachment 5CB3437D-D4C8-4CB4-83D0-5C452E1D2774.mov

 

[njlarsen]

Which part of the world? and When?

Might be a snail kite

 

[rayman]

Which part of the world? and When?

Might be a snail kite

Sorry, North of Orlando, FL. today
Had a white band under neck while flying

 

[delia todd]

Hi Rayman and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I've moved your post to the ID forum as they're better placed to be able to help you.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi-there-rayman-and-welcome-aboard!!

 

[Owlbarred]

Juvenile snail kite. Note the iris color.

 

[rayman]

Juvenile snail kite. Note the iris color.

Very cool ! That explains why I couldn't identify. Never saw or heard one before. It flew in and landed about 40 ft from us and stayed perched for 10 minutes making its unique call. This is the first time I've been out bird watching in many years, other than the back yard. I used my iPhone on a digiscope attachment on my scope to get pics and videos. Got some other vids, but too long to download here. Only been in FL for 10 years, used to the hawks in New England. Saw the Snail Kite on Lake Apopka, north of Orlando.

 

[Lisa W]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I am taking a guess, but possible dark morph Short-tailed Hawk. Can be found in southern Florida all year.

 

[THE_FERN]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I am taking a guess, but possible dark morph Short-tailed Hawk. Can be found in southern Florida all year.

Nope: as per the poster's other thread, this is immature snail kite (note the thin hooked bill)

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[delia todd]

Hi again Rayman - I wonder if you'd mind if I added your recording to our Opus article for this species? You will be credited for it in the same way that the pictures are.

This is a link to the article: Snail Kite - BirdForum Opus

 

[rayman]

Hi again Rayman - I wonder if you'd mind if I added your recording to our Opus article for this species? You will be credited for it in the same way that the pictures are.

This is a link to the article: Snail Kite - BirdForum Opus

You are free to do what ever you like

 

[delia todd]

You are free to do what ever you like

Oooh! Now that's a bit dangerous Rayman... 😂

Thanks very much, I'll get onto it.

 

[rayman]

Oooh! Now that's a bit dangerous Rayman... 😂

Thanks very much, I'll get onto it.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is OPUS ?

and... Is seeing a snail kite a rare sighting ?

 

[delia todd]

You are free to do what ever you like

Your recording is now in place: Snail Kite - BirdForum Opus

It's in the Behaviour section if you want to see it.

 

[nartreb]

It's a very good bird for the US, with a US population around a thousand (all in Florida), listed as endangered. It eats almost nothing except large snails that inhabit swamps.

 

[rayman]

It's a very good bird for the US, with a US population around a thousand (all in Florida), listed as endangered. It eats almost nothing except large snails that inhabit swamps.

Thank you - I didn’t think anyone was actually going to answer 😳