ML609826064

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Sorry for the late report on this, but I suspect this wasn't chase-able. I also felt I needed additional study to establish the ID, and have limited time to do that study. I was atop the bluff across the creek from Las Flores, and saw a small raptor dart into one of the eucalyptus on the flat area near Imperial Hwy. It flushed a lot of Mourning Doves, and I figured it was likely an accipiter given my poor views. When I reached the tree some time later, the bird was still sitting in it about 1/3 of the way up in the midst of some branches. I had a full on straight view of the bird and I instantly suspected it was a Broad-winged Hawk, but at the same moment it took off, flew straight toward me, banked left and behind the tree, up and over the hill. I pursued it immediately, and after failing to find it atop the bluff, I stopped, took notes on what I had observed in the very brief look I had, then continued my search. I tried every tree immediately north and south of Imperial Hwy without success. This is what I saw: A very small buteo (obviously barrel chested and short-tailed compared to an accipiter) with a white breast with dark streaking only on the sides of the upper breast. The streaking was thick and of a dark tone. The middle of the chest and throat were completely white. The tail had only two or three tail bands visible. My impression was that this was noticeably smaller than most Red-shouldered Hawks. (Perhaps due to its shorter legs). The wings were dark brown. The head was dark, but I didn't have time to process any pattern. As I searched, I tried to process what I had seen, and at the time I knew I needed further study to eliminate other possibilities. After work, I pulled up BNA, field guides, and perused many many photos on eBird to get a sense for the possibilities. A brief survey drove me to head back to the spot for another check, but I was unsuccessful again. Later, I perused the possibilities more in depth. I first examined many photos of immature Red-shouldered Hawks as this was the primary alternative. Immature Red-shouldered Hawks (especially our local elegans variety) have far more breast streaking that extends across the breast. I have never seen a bird with an open white chest in my local experience, and I could not any photo at all similar in the eBird archive. I also considered an eastern Red-shouldered Hawk (less probable than a Broad-winged Hawk in southern California), and examining photos of lineatus I cannot find any with as little streaking on the breast as this bird had. Lineatus also show paler streaking than this bird showed. Also, Red-shouldered's streaking is narrower than I observed on this bird. The streaks, while sparse, were quite thick and dark. I also considered a very small immature Red-tailed Hawk or Swainson's Hawk, which can have a similar breast pattern to this bird, but the tail streaking rules out that species as immatures would have thinner and more numerous tail bars. I wish that I had experienced a classic view of a soaring Broad-winged Hawk to observe wing structure or pattern. I was also unable to see the folded secondaries while the bird was perched since my view was only from in front of the bird.

Technical information

Model

Pixel 6a

Lens

Pixel 6a back camera 4.38mm f/1.73

ISO

581

Focal length

4.4 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.7

Shutter speed

4169/500000 sec

Dimensions

4032 pixels x 3024 pixels

Original file size

2.14 MB