Did I see a Red Tail Hawk? (1 Viewer)

[crowfeather]

:bounce:
Hi All!

I am new here and wanted to ask about a hawk I saw just yesterday. I don't know a whole lot about hawks, but want to know if the bird I saw was Red Tailed Hawk. I was just out for a drive when I saw an bird with large sort of grayish black wings settle to perch at the edge of a sidewalk. I just had to get out for a closer look, I love all kinds of birds.
This bird let me get within three feet of him! I was certian he was hawk, he was way to big to be falcon, and to little to be an eagel. He had very large dark gray colored wings, his head and back was eather the same color as his wings or sort of a reddish brown, I cannot seem to remeber which. I remember his beak was black, sort of hooked at the end and looked VERY sharp. His underside, and the feathers on his legs were cream colored with random brown streaks. His tail was sort of rust colored, with a few of the greyish color of his wings at the base.
This hawk was sooo beatuful, I never dreamed I would be able to see any bird of prey as close I did less than 24 hours ago. And yes I FORGOT my camara!!!:-C I know a picture would help but I gave the best decriptiption I could Do you think he was a Red Tail? I live in North Texas, if that helps with the identification.
ByeBye!:flyaway:
Crowfeather

 

[steve_nova]

Hi Crowfeather and a warm welcome to bird forum.

Your bird does sound like a Red-tailed Hawk but I will leave it to the experts in this matter....

 

[Beverlybaynes]

Welcome Crowfeather, from the Admin and Moderators of Birdforum! We're glad to have you!

Although I'm no expert, it certainly sounds like a Red-tail. Did those brown streaks on the creamy chest and belly seem to form a belly-band? That can be diagnostic for a Red-tail.

I'm a bit concerned that it allowed you to come so close, however. It's possible that the bird was perhaps injured or ill, as they are normally fairly wary of humans.

Have you been having much West Nile Virus in your area? It's taken quite a heavy toll on Red-tails in northeastern Indiana, where I live.

 

[crowfeather]

Hi There!:hi:

Unfortianatly I didn't get to see any sort of belly markings, and we have been having some West Nile virius problems The bird however seemed perfectly healthy, and very much aware of me. I was shocked it let me come so close to it. The way he was staring at me as I was moving closer was what prompted me to leave, I don't want those talons near me! Sure hope he wasn't sick or hurt.
ByeBye
Crowfeather :flyaway:

 

[Luc]

:bounce:
His tail was sort of rust colored, with a few of the greyish color of his wings at the base.

Crowfeather

Hi Crowfeather,

Your bird had a rust colored tail so it is probably a Red-tailed Hawk but in my area I don't remember to have seen any Red-tailed Hawk with grayish color on his wings.
What came to my mind when you describe this bird was a male American Kestrel, a pretty small falcon tough the one you saw was probably too large to be an American Kestrel.

http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bird_bios/speciesaccounts/amekes.html

 

[Luc]

I also tought of the possibility of a Ferruginous Hawk.

 

[bcurrie]

With the grayish wings, sounds like a better possibility of a Ferruginous Hawk. The red-tailed has brown wings. (Look in the gallery, there are several Red-tailed's there, including some under my name). The Ferruginous' bill is more sharply hooked than the Red-tailed, and they are larger. It also has a fair amount of rust on it, though more random than a solid pattern. However, the tail is basically all white with just a little rust. Crowfeather, if you want let me know and I can send you a fairly close-up photo of the Ferruginous that I took two weeks ago. Just PM me with your e-mail.