Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Bluffs Birder on October 30, 2008, 08:38:19 PM

Title: Looking for a second, third, & fourth opinion
Post by: Bluffs Birder on October 30, 2008, 08:38:19 PM

Please only experts in the field of raptors need to reply - sorry!!!

My mentor and friend has explained to me that this is just a "light morph - with partial albino characteristics" Eastern race Red-tailed Hawk but for once I'm doubting his expertise...I probably shouldn't though, I'm just hoping for something better  :D  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23104674@N07/2987222371/in/set-72157608521302957/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23104674@N07/2987222379/in/set-72157608521302957/

Thankyou in advance
Walter

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Post by: BIGFRANK on October 30, 2008, 09:38:04 PM

What his mentor actually said was it was an Eastern Redtail,with(to be a nice guy and not say U are out of your mind) abit more white then normal on the head. I believe it was just lighting/how the sun hit the bird that made it appear different. If not lighting then Redtails do have high incidence of albinoism,so that would be my next choice. Lightening the photos,classic field marks of an eastern Redtail are visible.  My final answer Eastern Redtail borealis. The commonly seen one in these parts!

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Post by: David Shilman on October 30, 2008, 09:53:12 PM

I'm pretty darned sure it's a...oh, sorry, I didn't see your note about only "experts in the field of raptors" should reply.  Never mind.

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Post by: Anonymous on October 30, 2008, 10:19:17 PM

Eastern Light Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

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Post by: Bluffs Birder on October 30, 2008, 10:36:22 PM

Okay, now that we've got that cleared up!!! - lol  David, you're so right, I'm in the same boat.  I was also sure it's was a... until I thought it could be a... and then also maybe a... but then it couldn't be...

It sure looks like I can't squeeze it in to anything but what BIGFRANK told me in the beginning...oh well, I loose!!!

Thanks
Walter

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Post by: fpinilla on October 31, 2008, 09:27:15 AM

So, you asked for "2nd, 3rd and 4th opinions", well, I believe I'm number 4 - it is a bird!   :roll:

Seriously though, this bird shows the classic "patagial" marks of a Red-tailed Hawk - those are the dark feathers on the leading edge of the wing between the shoulder and the wrist, unless the bird is completely melanistic or albino, RTHA's always have this field mark.

Happy birding!

Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON