Big bird (ID?)

[cfcRebel]

I saw this beautiful bird (hawk?) gliding freely when i was heading to a park. Can anyone tell what it is?
Please ignore the contrast and noise because I have to do some massive pp to bring up the subject. Otherwise it is just a big piece of black shadow.:o
Thx.

[slacker]

My guess is a redtail hawk, but the coloring from the shoulders to head is different.

http://www.hangingrocktower.org/birds/red-tailedhawk.htm
http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/redtail.shtml

[cfcRebel]

I just googled, it looks more like a Red-Shouldered hawk, but i'm not sure either.
Thanks for looking slacker.

[tupe]

Nice to get a shot with that much detail. I'm guessing red-shouldered, but only from what i can find on Google.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks tupe. This is my first hawk shot. I'm happy with it even though it was kind of blurry and grainy. These big birds were just too far for my little lens.

[Paul A]

How about a harrier hawk, just a wild guess.

[Andrew Pratt]

Looking at the tail banding I'd say its a broad-winged hawk

[Wayne Wood]

After pouring over a wealth of material I have at my disposal here I would have to say that the shape of the wings and tail lean towards it being a Northern Harrier just an opinion good shot though

[cfcRebel]

Thanks Andrew, liv2trip!
So now we have the following possibilities:
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Northern Harrier Hawk

I've checked using this website. They are indeed quite similar. Well, maybe it would help if my image is clearer and sharper.
http://www.avesphoto.com/website/NA/home.htm

Any more votes?

[Florida Cracker]

In Florida we call them Red-Tailed Hawks.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Let's rule some of the options out first;

Not a Harrier.. the Tail is much too short.

This is definitely a "buteo" which includes the other three species mentioned thus far;

Red tailed Hawk's tails are wider in flight,. and would not show so dark as in this photo.. they don't have such distiguishing white bands,.. they have white chests with streaked bellies... This is no Red Tail.

Both Red Shouldered and Broad Winged Hawks are the right shape (buteo).. both are in Texas..

But the Red Shouldered Hawk also has a long tail,. (an unusually long tail for a "buteo" ) with multiple thin white bands. Our bird has only one broad white band visible. though I suspect there may be a second band close to the tip that is not visible. But I would not rule Red Shouldered out by a long shot..

I'd say we can narow it down to;
Broad Winged Hawk
Red Shouldered Hawk..

I'm leaning towards Broad Winged..

[mrclark321]

Hey Rebel..how you doing?
Is that with the 100-300mm?
Keep up the good work

Dan

[cfcRebel]

Thanks CDS, Dan. You are right. The shot was taken with my 100-300mm.

CDS, i remember the actual size of the bird is slightly bigger than a crow. Swainson's...... isn't this tail is alittle too small for swainson's?

[cfcRebel]

Here's another shot of the same bird from a different angle.

[Raj]

cfc, no idea abt birds ID but it definately is a very good shot ! Plus I see you are in PP also now ;)
Good job !

[CyberDyneSystems]

.. Oops. my refernce to Swainsons was in there before I had researched it thouroughly .. I thought I had edited it out before hitting "submit"...

Anyway.. the red Shouldered tends to be the larger of the two.. (vs. Broad Winged)

You'd figure it would be eaiser with the second shot that now clearly shows a single white band?

Well it is!

Common Black Hawk.. ;)
I think it's just a younger one that still shows a lof of specling and an overall lighter body.

[cfcRebel]

cfc, no idea abt birds ID but it definately is a very good shot ! Plus I see you are in PP also now ;)
Good job ! Thanks Raj. I guess an unidentified dark shadow has motivated me to do pp finally. LOL! :lol:


You'd figure it would be eaiser with that now clearly visible single white band?

Wel it is!

Common Black Hawk.. ;)

Really? U didn't say that because the 2nd pic was too dark, did u?

[Andrew Pratt]

I still think its a broadwinged hawk even with the second photo.

[Paul A]

Hard to ID from the pics, it may have a white rump which would tend toward N. Harrier if it doesn't have a white rump then I vote for broad wing??

[cfcRebel]

Well, i guess the conclusion is, it's either a red-shouldered hawk or a broad-wing hawk. :D
Thank y'all for trying.

[robertwgross]

Red-shouldered hawk.

---Bob Gross---

[cfcRebel]

So, it is a Red-shouldered hawk. Thanks for the answer Bob! ;)

[tupe]

Red-shouldered hawk.Any tips on identifying this bird?

[robertwgross]

The Sibley guide is best for me.

Since I am in the Western US, I use the Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. There is an Eastern version also.

"Indentification of Buteos
Indentification is difficult, due to extensive variation in plumage and shape within species and the fact that most buteos are seen only in flight at a distance.

For flying birds, concentrate on wing shape, pattern on underside of flight feathers and underwing coverts, and tail pattern."

---Bob Gross---

[tupe]

Thanks, Bob. Now I understand.

[Paul A]

So we need the 500mm lens with an extender and even then we might have an interesting ID discussion.

[Andrew Pratt]

Add to that there's immatures and various phases and it makes for quiet the challenge!

[Paul A]

Ok how about a shotgun, after we take the pic we can get a voucher specimen. Just kidding!!!!

[cfcRebel]

Ok how about a shotgun, after we take the pic we can get a voucher specimen. Just kidding!!!!
LOL! I'll stick with wild guess. :lol: