Hawks - Florida, USA Jan 2011 (1 Viewer)

[Tony Knight]

The attached 5 files represent 5 different birds. All have been auto-named as red shouldered hawks and while that may be the case for some, based on appearance and eye colour i think there may be up to 3 types of hawk within these 5 pictures ?? The location of the bird is in each file name, all were taken in Jan 2011.

What do you think??

Thanks
Tony

 

[RJP]

Your pictures are a mix of immature and adult birds - #1 and #3 are adults, the other 3 are immatures. Immatures usually have lighter eyes. Also be aware that there is a Florida race of Red-shouldered Hawk that is paler than other eastern Red-shouldereds, and you might see both regular eastern and the Florida race in Florida.

#1 and #3 are clearly Red-shouldereds. The main difficulty with the immatures is separating them from Broad-wingeds, which could be in Florida even in January. For perched immature birds, Red-shouldereds look nearly identical to Broad-wingeds. For my money #2 is too close to call and #4 looks like a Red-shouldered. #5 is interesting because the tail looks more Red-shouldered but the secondaries are unmarked, which would lean Broad-winged.

 

[Jim M.]

For me, 1&3 RSHA, and the rest BWHA.

Best,
Jim

 

[RJP]

For me, 1&3 RSHA, and the rest BWHA.

Jim, I'm fine with 2 and 5 as Broad-wingeds. Can you tell me what marks you are using on #4 for calling it BWHA? Thx ...

 

[JANJ]

I agree with Jim. The last Broad-winged is an adult.

JanJ

 

[Jim M.]

Can you tell me what marks you are using on #4 for calling it BWHA? Thx ...

GISS--it has that miniature buteo look; RSHA is longer legged, longer tailed, etc. Also, no barring on the secondaries, white throat, etc.

Best,
Jim

 

[cavan wood]

2,4, and 5 as broad-winged was my call as well. For 4 in particular, the streaking thins out on the middle chest, and it has that runt look to it, and no hint of barring on the wing.

 

[ceasar]

Agree with Jim for the reasons he gives.

Bob

 

[Angnix]

4 is a BWHA, I've seen too many of these in the wild and captivity (I have worked at a raptor center and at a hawkwatch as an educator)

 

[Tony Knight]

thanks everyone for your help - i always struggle with the raptors given the wide range of appearances each species seems to be able to exhibit !!