Indiana raptor i.d. please (1 Viewer)

[freetobe]

Was traveling through southern Indiana last week. Saw a bald eagle one day, then a few days later saw another raptor I have yet to identify. Have searched on the web to no avail. It was perched on a tree at the side of the interstate. It had the size & shape of an eagle. It's head, back, & wings appeared solid black, but maybe dark brown. What was striking was that the entire belly, from the end of the neck to the tail start, appeared to be solid white. The tail I think was black/dark brown. It was very regal-looking, like the eagle, but the colors have thrown me.

Any help out there? Thanks so much...

 

[Owl Capone]

osprey?

 

[ceasar]

The most common bird of prey by far, seen perched along interstate highways in the USA, especially east of the Mississippi River, is the Red-tailed Hawk. Your description could match one. Here is a picture of one with a very light colored chest and abdomen. Often the markings on the belly (known as the belly band) are more dominant than the ones shown here. This field mark could be easy to miss as you go by in a car. If the bird was a juvenile RTH it would not get it's rufous colored tail until it's second year. (Size is also often difficult to estimate without a frame of reference.)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Red-tailed_hawk02.jpg

I see this is your first post on Bird forum and so:

Welcome to Bird Forum!

Bob:hi:

 

[freetobe]

thanks

osprey?

Thanks for replying. Looked up Osprey images. I saw why you might have suggested it, but the head size & coloring are wrong.

Thanks again, though! I only have received 2 replies so far, so I appreciate each one!!

 

[freetobe]

thanks

The most common bird of prey by far, seen perched along interstate highways in the USA, especially east of the Mississippi River, is the Red-tailed Hawk. Your description could match one. Here is a picture of one with a very light colored chest and abdomen. Often the markings on the belly (known as the belly band) are more dominant than the ones shown here. This field mark could be easy to miss as you go by in a car. If the bird was a juvenile RTH it would not get it's rufous colored tail until it's second year. (Size is also often difficult to estimate without a frame of reference.)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Red-tailed_hawk02.jpg

I see this is your first post on Bird forum and so:

Welcome to Bird Forum!

Bob:hi:

HELLO!

Thanks for the welcome, and for the suggestion. It is possible it could have been a RTH... When I researched the images before joining this Forum, the RTH ones just didn't seem quite right, as well as everything else I might add. But, I've only had 2 replies to my post so far, & your's is the most likely of the two.

I can still see the image in my head. It was so striking, and unexpected!

Thanks again...

 

[Lee Woodie]

may have been a white tail hawk

 

[Jim M.]

may have been a white tail hawk

Not likely considering that species has never been recorded in Indiana. Red-tailed Hawk looks like the best guess.

Best,
Jim

 

[ceasar]

You are welcome Freetobe!

Hope this has stimulated your interest in this fascinating subject!:t:

Bob

 

[JWellman]

Hi Freetobe,
I live in Indiana and wanted you to take a look at a bird I found a few weeks ago. (Newton-Stewart Boat Ramp at Patoka Lake). I apologize in advance for the horrible photo! I posted it on Facebook because there was some discrepancies on what type of Eagle I had found. The majority believe it to be a young Bald Eagle. I have a few that say it is a Golden Eagle. One person said it was a hawk. Personally, I believe it to be an Eagle (and by the way...the first one I've ever found in the wild...so I was very excited) :t:

If you notice you will see a lot of white on him so perhaps a young Eagle is what you saw. I've also attached a Red Tail that frequents my back yard to keep watch ( ) on all the birds at the feeder.


(Eagle) (Red Shouldered Hawk)

 

[Jim M.]

Hi Freetobe,
I live in Indiana and wanted you to take a look at a bird I found a few weeks ago. (Newton-Stewart Boat Ramp at Patoka Lake). I apologize in advance for the horrible photo! I posted it on Facebook because there was some discrepancies on what type of Eagle I had found. The majority believe it to be a young Bald Eagle. I have a few that say it is a Golden Eagle. One person said it was a hawk. Personally, I believe it to be an Eagle (and by the way...the first one I've ever found in the wild...so I was very excited) :t:

If you notice you will see a lot of white on him so perhaps a young Eagle is what you saw. I've also attached a Red Tail that frequents my back yard to keep watch ( ) on all the birds at the feeder.


View attachment 304895 (Eagle) View attachment 304896 (Red Tail)

Hi Jessica,

Your first bird is definitely a young Bald Eagle. Golden Eagle's don't have such a large beak, and would not show as much scattered, white plumage.

Your second bird is an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. Among other things, a Red-tailed Hawk (at least the race that occurs in your area) would have a white, not orange breast.

Best,
Jim

 

[JWellman]

Your second bird is an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. Among other things, a Red-tailed Hawk (at least the race that occurs in your area) would have a white, not orange breast.

Thanks so much for the clarification Jim! I edited my post to reflect your comment. When I first labeled him in my Facebook album I had him listed as a Red-Shouldered Hawk. I came to this conclusion by comparing internet photos. Someone corrected me and said it was a Red-Tailed Hawk so I changed it.

I wish I had some decent side by side photos so I could see the difference in the two! The same day that I found the Bald Eagle I also found a Hawk but the photo was horrible and I deleted it. Now I'm unsure if it was a Red Tail or Red Shouldered.

I recently attended a DNR seminar to learn a little more about Raptors. It was an interesting class. One of my questions was, "How can I tell the difference between a Red-Shouldered/Red Tailed Hawk?" The answer I was given is that one is smaller than the other...which didn't help me much. |>|