ML362255421

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Driving south on OK SH132 south of Drummond, OK, I caught sight of good sized black hawk-like bird dropping from cottonwood tree into low, wet portion of field. When the bird braked to land, and fanned the tail, I was immediately taken by the broad, very white band across the base of the tail, as well as a second, narrow white band at the tail tip. Zone-tail was quickly eliminated by lack of multiple grayish bands on tail, and Harris's by lack of any rufous on wings. In flight, the bird displayed a very broad wing--especially at the base, more reminiscent of a Black Vulture. Flight was quite rapid, very unlike that of Turkey Vulture and Zone-tailed Hawk. Photos show the broad tertials characteristic of Common Black Hawk, as well as quite long tarsi. Bill very yellow with black tip. Additionally, as the bird sat in the flooded field it called twice; both times sort a very high pitched "eeee-eeeee-eeee".

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

ISO

125

Focal length

215 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

4000 pixels x 3000 pixels

Original file size

2.28 MB