Broad Winged or RT Dark Morph?

[Jaedon]

Saw this guy yesterday at the corner of Kennedy and Sheppard.  I have tentatively ID'd him as a Broad Winged hawk from my birders guide but he my be a dark morphed RT.  Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Julie]

hi

A redtail is much more likely for this time of year-- the broad wings ride south in about September or October and are considerably smaller. And dark morphs are common for red tails here-- like the west coast, and unlike  the much lighter birds you find on the prairies.


Julie

[Iain]

Looks like a Redtail (typical plumage).  You can just see the rusty tail underneath the primaries which eliminates Broad-winged and the creamy chest is also visible which eliminates dark-morph.

Good birding,
Iain

[rgboy]

It's hard to see his tail. But I'd say this Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk.

[JTF]

I would say a standard Red Tailed.

[BIGFRANK]

100% Redtail...typical eastern colourations. Backs are mottled brown and white.

[Jaedon]

Thanks guys.  I couldn't get a decent view of the tail from any angle I tried so I did my best.  Guess I can't cross off Broad Winged for this year just yet lol.  I knew the tail was definitely too short for a Coopers and the size alone (he was visible up there from almost 1.5 KM away) told me it was too big for anything other than a RT or Broad Winged.  RT it is then.