Central California Coast Hawk (1 Viewer)

[vbnut]

I took these photos of this hawk perched only 10 to 15 meters away in a tree on the coastal cliffs in Santa Cruz, California in the early afternoon of July 3rd 2024. I usually find the raptors I see are red-tailed or red-shouldered hawks, since they are the most common around here. We also have Osprey and Peregrine Falcons, but they are distinctive enough that I find them petty easy to identify. I'm less certain about this one, so any identification help would be appreciated.

 

[DHayden]

I would call it a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Breast fairly clean. Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks tend to have more spotting on the chest.

 

[Bewick]

I would call it a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Breast fairly clean. Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks tend to have more spotting on the chest.

Yes a Red-tailed hawk but doesn't the dark brown eye and lack of banding to the tail suggest it is an adult?

 

[DHayden]

I didn't catch that. So yes an adult.

 

[vbnut]

Thanks folks. I'm used to red-tails having a dark belly-band that I'm not seeing in this individual, so that made me uncertain.

 

[Montereyman]

They have different cries and Merlin is good at distinguishing between the two species. I also find it useful for terns that are flying high overhead.