ML290181821
Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk (hybrid) Buteo lineatus x jamaicensis
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Apparent adult hybrid, obviously different from individual present nearby in Benton, Maine since 2016. Presumably same bird found at exact location (opposite sign announcing 1 mile until Waterville exit 127) two days prior and initially reported as Red-shouldered Hawk. Stocky Buteo seemingly about as large as Red-tailed Hawk. Medium brown on entire head except for chin and lores. Upper breast streaked and barred with rufous similar to Red-shouldered Hawk. Flight feathers barred lighter gray and darker brown, but not as contrasting black and white as expected for Red-shouldered Hawk. Only underside of tail seen, numerous dark (at least six) and light bands. Perched in trees at edge of median strip on west side of northbound interstate 95; thus, behavior and timing (winter) similar to Red-tailed Hawk. Bird did not fly, never saw underwings or upperside of tail. My gut tells me this is an F1 hybrid, characters seem roughly equally divided between the two presumed parental species. Addendum: after seeing the upper tail pattern in Louis Bevier's photos of this bird from 22 December (https://ebird.org/checklist/S77852344) I'm more willing to believe a possible backcross hybrid with Red-shouldered Hawk (i.e., 75% Red-shouldered and 25% Red-tailed).
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
- ISO
- 400
- Focal length
- 194 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire
- f-stop
- f/5.6
- Shutter speed
- 1/1250 sec
- Dimensions
- 1148 pixels x 810 pixels
- Original file size
- 726.56 KB