Coloboma in Buteo Genus?
Dec 7, 2022 12:02:05 #
Another member of my local Hawk tribe visited my backyard a couple of days ago. No doubt inclined to a passing snack, maybe one of the Sparrow horde was unlucky. Anyway, here's a pic taken through my patio door, showing yet another Hawk with what appears to be Coloboma (an eye abnormality, most commonly of the iris). Now I'm wondering if this is rare or commonly found in the Buteo Genus?
BTW, apologies for the pic quality, this character loves to perch on an old maple log, which is at an extreme angle to the double glazed patio door. I've long known that even expensive patio doors are fairly useless optically... I should count myself lucky to have captured anything remotely like a bird portrait. Here's a link to another Hawk with apparent Coloboma, without patio door issues: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-692748-1.html
BTW, apologies for the pic quality, this character loves to perch on an old maple log, which is at an extreme angle to the double glazed patio door. I've long known that even expensive patio doors are fairly useless optically... I should count myself lucky to have captured anything remotely like a bird portrait. Here's a link to another Hawk with apparent Coloboma, without patio door issues: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-692748-1.html
Dec 7, 2022 13:31:03 #
Dec 7, 2022 15:42:37 #
BB4A wrote:
Another member of my local Hawk tribe visited my b... (show quote)
A great portrait of an intense-looking guy 🤎👀👀👀🤎
Dec 8, 2022 05:58:49 #
shutterhawk
Loc: Cape Cod
BB4A wrote:
Another member of my local Hawk tribe visited my b... (show quote)
Raptor IDs aren't easy. This is an adult Coopers Hawk in the accipiter genus. The orange eye suggests he (or she) has newly molted into adult plumage. An immature bird would have a yellow eye and a fully adult bird a ruby red eye. Buteos have pale to dark brown eyes.
Dec 8, 2022 06:03:01 #
Dec 8, 2022 08:10:41 #
Dec 8, 2022 08:46:28 #
Dec 8, 2022 10:53:06 #
shutterhawk wrote:
Raptor IDs aren't easy. This is an adult Coopers Hawk in the accipiter genus. The orange eye suggests he (or she) has newly molted into adult plumage. An immature bird would have a yellow eye and a fully adult bird a ruby red eye. Buteos have pale to dark brown eyes.
Apologies, I didn’t mean to confuse. Yes, the linked pic is of a Coopers Hawk (Accipiter Genus), also with a misshaped left iris. I’m not too concerned about eye color, I’m wondering why most local Hawks I’ve photographed over the last couple of years has an apparent Coloboma in one eye (for these two examples, both the left eye)?
I’m concerned as this could be a mutation that also might indicate other problems, or this may be a visible sign of long-term eye damage caused by West Nile Virus. Either way, I was interested to hear if others have noticed the same eye problems in Hawks in their areas (I’m in NE WI)?
Dec 8, 2022 11:27:23 #
Here's a more frontal shot, showing both eyes and irises, for comparison purposes. Not only is the left iris misshapen or "blown", but it's also not adjusting to light in tandem with the right eye.
Dec 8, 2022 11:50:14 #
Dec 8, 2022 13:12:20 #
shutterhawk wrote:
Raptor IDs aren't easy. This is an adult Coopers Hawk in the accipiter genus. The orange eye suggests he (or she) has newly molted into adult plumage. An immature bird would have a yellow eye and a fully adult bird a ruby red eye. Buteos have pale to dark brown eyes.
Dec 10, 2022 15:29:50 #
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