Blue eyed Hawk ID
Nov 30, 2018 09:45:04 #
Could use a little help IDing a Hawk that landed in my yard (S/E Ct.) I know it's not a great shot I had to shoot through the window at quite a distance but this is the first time I have seen a blue-eyed hawk maybe someone can help ID this one, it's about the size of a Red-tailed??? Thanks for your help!
Nov 30, 2018 09:47:35 #
Nov 30, 2018 09:58:13 #
Nov 30, 2018 10:23:07 #
Nov 30, 2018 10:25:11 #
Paul Best.
Loc: California desert
On the contrary, I think they are excellent shots considering they were shot through a window. I have spent several minutes trying to find a hawk with blue eyes and I haven't found one. I even consulted a Woodworking shop that specializes in making bird models in wood. They listed every hawk I have ever heard of and a few that I never heard of. They list the eye colors for the modelers so that their models are correct. None were blue. In some cases the immature hawks have eyes that changed colors as they mature but that was mostly from yellow to darker brown. The eyes on your hawk are a beautiful blue so it doesn't look like some sort of intermediate stage. If you are able to find out who this beauty is, please post again.--- Blaster34, I checked and the Cooper's Hawk has brown eyes.
Nov 30, 2018 10:29:55 #
Paul Best.
Loc: California desert
Here is an article on changing eye colors in the Hawk family.
Eye Color in Raptors
06 March 2015 Written by Jerry Liguori
Eye Color in Raptors
In case you didn't catch this story in our latest RaptorWatch newsletter, take a read. Make sure to sign up for our quarterly newsletters to get our latest updates and news.
________________________________
One interesting aspect of raptors is how eye color changes as birds age from juvenile to adult. In some raptors, eye color takes a shorter time to change than in others, and sometimes this is even related to the sex of the bird, as males will typically change quicker than females. Certain species take as much as 5 years to change eye color completely (Figure 1, Bald Eagle -- brown in juvenile on left, to yellow in adult on right), others, such as the North American falcons, are born with eyes that never change from dark brown (Figure 2, Merlin on left, Peregrine on right). This is helpful when trying to tell the similar-looking Merlin and juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk (both are streaked below) apart when trying to decide which one is perched in your yard. The yellow eye of the juvenile Sharp-shinned will rule out Merlin (has dark eyes) immediately.
One raptor that barely changes eye color is the Osprey, whose pale orange eye as a youngster changes to yellow as an adult. The Northern Harrier is unrelated to the Osprey, but interestingly it shows a very similar eye color change to an Osprey relative, the Bald Eagle. Harriers change from grayish or yellowish in males to lemon yellow (Figure 3), but juvenile females (Figure 4, top left) have dark brown eyes that gradually change from pale brown to bright yellow through the first few years of adulthood, identical to the brown-to-yellow change of the Bald Eagle. The three accipiters (Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, and Goshawk) are quite the opposite, starting off with bright yellow eyes as juveniles that turn to dark red as they age (Figure 5, Sharp-shinned Hawks).
The eye color of most buteos (Red-tailed, Swainson’s, Ferruginous, etc.) changes from pale yellowish to dark brown over time (Figure 6, Red- tailed Hawks), but that is not completely true in some respects. Swainson’s, Red-shouldered, Rough-legged, and Broad-winged Hawks in particular can have brownish eyes even as juveniles (Figure 7, Broad- winged Hawk juvenile on left, adult on right). Another interesting tidbit is that it takes Ferruginous Hawks more time than the other buteos to attain dark brown eyes. Remember, there are exceptions to every rule regarding raptor plumages and colorations. I have seen several juvenile accipiters with dark brown eyes, an adult Cooper’s Hawk with white eyes, and various other “funky-eyed” raptors. So, if you see a bird with an oddly colored eye, consider yourself lucky...and feel free to share it with us!
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Eye Color in Raptors
06 March 2015 Written by Jerry Liguori
Eye Color in Raptors
In case you didn't catch this story in our latest RaptorWatch newsletter, take a read. Make sure to sign up for our quarterly newsletters to get our latest updates and news.
________________________________
One interesting aspect of raptors is how eye color changes as birds age from juvenile to adult. In some raptors, eye color takes a shorter time to change than in others, and sometimes this is even related to the sex of the bird, as males will typically change quicker than females. Certain species take as much as 5 years to change eye color completely (Figure 1, Bald Eagle -- brown in juvenile on left, to yellow in adult on right), others, such as the North American falcons, are born with eyes that never change from dark brown (Figure 2, Merlin on left, Peregrine on right). This is helpful when trying to tell the similar-looking Merlin and juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk (both are streaked below) apart when trying to decide which one is perched in your yard. The yellow eye of the juvenile Sharp-shinned will rule out Merlin (has dark eyes) immediately.
One raptor that barely changes eye color is the Osprey, whose pale orange eye as a youngster changes to yellow as an adult. The Northern Harrier is unrelated to the Osprey, but interestingly it shows a very similar eye color change to an Osprey relative, the Bald Eagle. Harriers change from grayish or yellowish in males to lemon yellow (Figure 3), but juvenile females (Figure 4, top left) have dark brown eyes that gradually change from pale brown to bright yellow through the first few years of adulthood, identical to the brown-to-yellow change of the Bald Eagle. The three accipiters (Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, and Goshawk) are quite the opposite, starting off with bright yellow eyes as juveniles that turn to dark red as they age (Figure 5, Sharp-shinned Hawks).
The eye color of most buteos (Red-tailed, Swainson’s, Ferruginous, etc.) changes from pale yellowish to dark brown over time (Figure 6, Red- tailed Hawks), but that is not completely true in some respects. Swainson’s, Red-shouldered, Rough-legged, and Broad-winged Hawks in particular can have brownish eyes even as juveniles (Figure 7, Broad- winged Hawk juvenile on left, adult on right). Another interesting tidbit is that it takes Ferruginous Hawks more time than the other buteos to attain dark brown eyes. Remember, there are exceptions to every rule regarding raptor plumages and colorations. I have seen several juvenile accipiters with dark brown eyes, an adult Cooper’s Hawk with white eyes, and various other “funky-eyed” raptors. So, if you see a bird with an oddly colored eye, consider yourself lucky...and feel free to share it with us!
Image Gallery
Click to enlarge image Fig 1.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 2.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 3.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 4.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 5.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 6.jpgClick to enlarge image Fig 7.jpg
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Nov 30, 2018 10:33:03 #
Whistletown Wilds wrote:
Could use a little help IDing a Hawk that landed in my yard (S/E Ct.) I know it's not a great shot I had to shoot through the window at quite a distance but this is the first time I have seen a blue-eyed hawk maybe someone can help ID this one, it's about the size of a Red-tailed??? Thanks for your help!
My Merlin bird kit says Red Tail Hawk
Rick
Nov 30, 2018 10:42:37 #
I read this previously, I can't say it was much help but thank you! I have photographed a few immature Red-tails, also spent a good amount of time searching the net, none show blue eyes but thanks again!
Nov 30, 2018 12:37:08 #
Nov 30, 2018 18:46:03 #
Whistletown Wilds wrote:
Could use a little help IDing a Hawk that landed in my yard (S/E Ct.) I know it's not a great shot I had to shoot through the window at quite a distance but this is the first time I have seen a blue-eyed hawk maybe someone can help ID this one, it's about the size of a Red-tailed??? Thanks for your help!
I'm guessing Cooper's, and this web site seems to support that:
https://avianrecon.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/coopers-hawk-eye-colors/
Nov 30, 2018 19:06:45 #
Whistletown Wilds wrote:
Could use a little help IDing a Hawk that landed in my yard (S/E Ct.) I know it's not a great shot I had to shoot through the window at quite a distance but this is the first time I have seen a blue-eyed hawk maybe someone can help ID this one, it's about the size of a Red-tailed??? Thanks for your help!
Great shots, Whistletown
Dec 1, 2018 06:56:09 #
I think he is beautiful and unique in nature, an oddity of his species. You were blessed to see and record this!
Dec 1, 2018 07:00:39 #
Dec 1, 2018 07:49:36 #
Dec 1, 2018 08:43:30 #
Whistletown Wilds wrote:
Could use a little help IDing a Hawk that landed in my yard (S/E Ct.) I know it's not a great shot I had to shoot through the window at quite a distance but this is the first time I have seen a blue-eyed hawk maybe someone can help ID this one, it's about the size of a Red-tailed??? Thanks for your help!
great shot of that blue-eyed wonder.
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