Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Walter Fisher on November 23, 2014, 05:44:51 PM

Title: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: Walter Fisher on November 23, 2014, 05:44:51 PM
I thought this was a Snowy Owl at first but a closer second look proved my fellow birder Phil L correct.  It was photographed along the side of the 401 but I will not disclose it's exact location.  It's was insanely dangerous to stop on the narrow shoulder today and will only worsen tomorrow as we return to a busy work week.  My apologies.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zI53n3-CMpc/VHJdlK8JwqI/AAAAAAAAnuY/nDt0i6uLr3k/s800/0360.JPG)

Walter
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: JW Mills on November 23, 2014, 07:08:01 PM
Great find Walter!
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: cairnstone on November 24, 2014, 11:12:20 AM
On December 7 last year I saw a white hawk sitting on a fence near the QEW. I reported it to eBird as a Gyrfalcon. My report was not accepted by eBird and without a photograph I don't blame them. When I first saw it I thought it was a Snowy Owl. Getting closer I soon realised it was no owl. I took the next exit and circled back, but it was gone. I wonder now if it was a leucistic hawk.
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: Walter Fisher on November 25, 2014, 07:59:27 PM
Zed/John - Thanks.

Cairnstone - Sorry I had the wrong highway, it was the 401 we saw the bird on.  It's definitely possible that you also saw a leucistic bird last year.
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: gary yankech on November 25, 2014, 08:13:56 PM
great shot walter!
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: Dinusaur on November 26, 2014, 06:57:10 AM
Beautiful - how rare is a leucistic variety?
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on November 26, 2014, 07:04:43 AM
that's a handsome bird
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: BoboBird on November 27, 2014, 07:51:05 AM
Great catch.

Quote from: "Dinusaur"
Beautiful - how rare is a leucistic variety?

I have never seen one... :)
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: Rotarran on November 27, 2014, 11:39:04 AM
Back in April someone reported a white Gyrfalcon near the southern tip of Lake Simcoe...but it turned out to be a Leucistic RTH.  It had been seen as early as January 2014.
Title: Re: Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk
Post by: paul_reeves on December 24, 2014, 02:07:53 PM
Nice find Walter.