Unknown Raptor, California, USA (1 Viewer)

[jmorlan]

Unknown raptor. Burleigh-Murray State Park, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California. 2 May 2015

We had only a brief view of this bird which flew with a rather floppy flight on long bowed wings. Tail seemed long. At first I thought it might be a Northern Harrier. This is the only photo. Photo copyright by Peter Seubert. Any help would be appreciated. TIA.

 

[Nutcracker]

Immature Red-tailed Hawk for me

 

[ceasar]

Immature Red-tailed Hawk for me

I don't think so. I can't see a patagial bar on the underwing.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Immature Red-tailed Hawk for me

I would agree, but quality is limited, tough to be certain.

 

[JANJ]

Could it be that the patagial mark (if there now is any?), is not visible due to the angle of the wing, because I was thinking jamaicensis or perhaps a dark morph harlani

JanJ

 

[jmorlan]

Thanks for the helpful comments. I sent the photo to a colleague raptor expert who replied, "Looks like a first-spring dark/rufous-morph RTHA. The strong wrist comma coupled with pale outer primary panel are good clues." Red-tail it is.

 

[ceasar]

Yes. The left wing does show a pale panel behind the fingers. I was very good at not seeing that!

Bob

 

[TLeukering]

Juvenile intermediate (aka rufous) Red-tailed, as evidenced by the large and trapezoidal wing panel that extends through the primary coverts. Learn that bit and it will take you far. View of the patagial bar on the far wing is blocked by the body.

 

[jmorlan]

Tony, Just to be clear you are talking about a "wing panel" on the upperside of the wing, right?

 

[TLeukering]

Tony, Just to be clear you are talking about a "wing panel" on the upperside of the wing, right?

Yup