Los Angeles Hawk? (1 Viewer)

[Livetowander]

Distant shots taken at Piute Ponds in July. Dark morph red-tailed hawk, or something else? Thanks.

 

[Butty]

Yes, I guess immature red-tailed hawk: big bill, narrowly-barred tail.

 

[tom baxter]

My gut reaction was Red-tailed Hawk as well, but I don't think I can be completely sure it isn't Swainson's Hawk. Looks a little thicker than Swainson's.

 

[lockbreeze926]

The default out west is Red-tailed; the apparent long wings are maybe interesting, though, which could suggest dark-morph Swainson's.

And a Loggerhead Shrike.

 

[Livetowander]

Thanks everyone. My gut also said red-tailed, but then I started to second-guess it.

@lockbreeze noticed the shrike

 

[birdmeister]

My first impression of structure suggested Red-tailed to me, as well, but I'm not so sure after a closer look. Photo P2500779 shows an angle where the primary projection looks pretty long, and there is distinct horizontal chest barring below a dark throat. I think this pattern is very rare in Red-tailed and quite common in dark/intermediate Swainson's. Not all the photos are conclusive, though, so I don't feel confident ruling out Red-tailed.

 

[Livetowander]

Thank you birdmeister.

 

[KC Foggin]

i'm leaning towards a Red-tail Hawk.