RFI: Western Canada Rufous Bird of Prey

[killdozer]

On a city street near the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary, I spotted this handsome raptor, but found the field marks and wing length confusing.

Sadly, I did not get a good look at the back, so any tail colouration and shoulder markings are a mystery.

Thanks in advance.

stuart

[Julie]

The hooded look feels like Swainson's hawk to me-- a common Prairie bird but pretty much unknown in the East and in most of BC.  Hard to tell the size from your pic, but it looks like a buteo. It would have been about the size of a redtail, but far more approachable-- any time I've been in SK and MB I've been amazed at how close even an adult Swainson's will let me get.

Julie

[Anonymous]

After consulting the Sibley's guide, I'd have to agree with Julie.  When you mentioned you were confused by the wing length I think is what gave it away - Swainson's have a WS of about 50" in length but their bodies are comparatively shorter at only 19".  The two-tone colour in the beak and the fact that it's wings slightly exceed its tail length are hints as well.

Cheers, Attila

[Kin Lau]

Can't help with the ID, but that's a really nice sharp shot. I hope we'll get Swainsons like that on our trip this summer.

[killdozer]

Thanks for weighing in, everyone! The colour morphs are so variable, it's a tough call for a neophyte birder.

Good Luck, Kin Lau-- I found the west to be full of life birds.

stuart