Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk

[Walter Fisher]

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.



Walter

[JW Mills]

Great find Walter!

[cairnstone]

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.

[Walter Fisher]

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.

[gary yankech]

great shot walter!

[Dinusaur]

Beautiful - how rare is a leucistic variety?

[mr.sharp-photo]

that's a handsome bird

[BoboBird]

Great catch.

Beautiful - how rare is a leucistic variety?

I have never seen one...

[Rotarran]

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.

[paul_reeves]

Nice find Walter.