Red-tailed Hawks: These are adults and relatively easy to id. I have spent a lifetime being confused by juvenile Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and other young Buteos common to my area. I...

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

These are adults and relatively easy to id. I have spent a lifetime being confused by juvenile Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and other young Buteos common to my area. I posted a thread with mature Red-shouldered hawks in the Photo Gallery (non were in flight).

Phil

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MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Nice shots!

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Your right, IDing the young beautios can be confusing. RE the Redtails however, note the dark leading edge of the wings. You can see it in one of your shots. I think the Redtails are the only one of the beautios that have a dark leading edge. If I am wrong, would be please to know.

Fun to chase aren't they. Go get some more!

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

MTG44 wrote:

Nice shots!

Hi MTG44, thank you for the visit and kind words.
Phil

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Nalu wrote:

Your right, IDing the young beautios can be confusing. RE the Redtails however, note the dark leading edge of the wings. You can see it in one of your shots. I think the Redtails are the only one of the beautios that have a dark leading edge. If I am wrong, would be please to know.

Fun to chase aren't they. Go get some more!

Hi Nalu, Thank you for the visit. I think you are right re. the Red-tailed field mark. Dark phase, light phase, intermediate... so many variables. Yes, great fun.
Regards, Phil

BamaTexan Loc: Deep in the heart of Texas

Excellent captures. I love chasing these birds from pole to pole!

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

BamaTexan wrote:

Excellent captures. I love chasing these birds from pole to pole!

Hi BamaTexan, So many of the perching raptors I see are on utility poles, it's their office! I often crop to portrait to hide the fact. Thank you for the visit and the kind words.
Regards, Phil

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

These are North America's most common Hawk. They always seem to fly away from our direction if flushed from a perch always showing us their more rude parts!

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

birdpix wrote:

These are North America's most common Hawk. They always seem to fly away from our direction if flushed from a perch always showing us their more rude parts!

Agree, and with Eastern and Western variations even among the mature animals. As to their exits, at least their rude parts can be one of their more identifiable field marks. Sometimes their exit behavior exhibits even ruder events. I'll bet you have a few of those shots.
Thank you for the visit birdpix. I am a long time admirer of your work and contributions to this forum.
Regards, Phil

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

rockdog wrote:

Agree, and with Eastern and Western variations even among the mature animals. As to their exits, at least their rude parts can be one of their more identifiable field marks. Sometimes their exit behavior exhibits even ruder events. I'll bet you have a few of those shots.
Thank you for the visit birdpix. I am a long time admirer of your work and contributions to this forum.
Regards, Phil

Thanks for the kind words.

As to the ruder behaviors, one of the indications that a Hawk is about to fly off is that they will defecate. I guess that's to lighten the load a bit!