Re: [SBB] around the bay (6/1)

[Bill Bousman <[[email protected]]>]

Dear Chuq,

This looks like an immature Red-tailed to me.  It seems to be on the 
lighter end of this variable species.  The tail and flight feathers all 
show even bands, as is characteristic of most Red-taileds.  There is a 
thin, somewhat dark patagium.  The belly streaking looks about normal to 
me.  If it was really bigger than the other hawks it might be female, but 
size can be really hard to judge.

I don't know why you suggest Ferruginous, which would be an extraordinary 
find at this time of year.  "lack of banding on the tail" does not fit with 
the photo you posted which shows clear bands (as seen on juvenile 
Red-taileds).  Wing shape can be valuable with experience, but is 
tricky.  To me, this shape appears typical of Red-taileds.  For 
Ferruginous, the underwing pattern is important, but I would not expect any 
banding, as is seen on this bird.

Nice picture.

Bill

At 11:43 PM 6/1/06, Chuq Von Rospach wrote:
>I took an extended trip around the bay today, just because I could....
>  I looked up, to see a
>very large raptor floating across the sky above us. There was a
>second one of the same type, but smaller, also within view, and they
>seemed to be loosely hunting together.
>
>They wheeled around the area for about 10 minutes. I was able to get
>some good shots of the bigger one -- this was a large bird, turkey
>vulture sized or larger. One of the shots is here:
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuqui/158516467/
>
>To me, it looks like a Ferruginous, but I'd love confirmation from
>the experts (large size, lack of banding on the tail, general wing
>and tail shape, dark tip on the beak and general face shape....). I
>ruled out a younger red-tail for a couple of reasons -- the darker
>color on the tip of the beak (which isn't as noticeable on this photo
>as on some I haven't cleaned up yet), and the size. Coincidentally,
>about two minutes after these two birds soared off to the north, a
>THIRD raptor flew into view -- and the red tail was clearly visible
>in the binoculars, and it was significantly smaller than either of
>these two birds. it was also being harrassed by a number of
>blackbirds, so it didn't stay long...



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