ML616815735

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

A major surprise that we initially just listed as Buteo sp. until we could analyze a few of the photo grabs taken while it was directly overhead. One could best describe this as a dark intermediate (dark rufous) morph as portrayed in Wheeler pg. 383. The Hawk headed above and towards us southbound and noted in this initial glide and flapping was that it was rather large, wings were held in a fairly strong dihedral, and the apparent two-toned underwings gave us very early speculation of perhaps a Turkey Vulture. This quickly changed as lighter coloration (not blackish), longish tail, and different flight style clearly put it as a Buteo. But, it was very obviously not a Red-tailed Hawk based on coloration patterning and general gizz including wing length and shape. The seemingly only reasonable buteo species we could speculate at the time, as it turned slightly and continued onward eastbound (never circling to show upperside) was Rough-legged Hawk. The problem with that thought at the time was it seemed rather large, it seemed long-tailed, and the wings were long and and seemed narrow-tipped and pointed (not all that fitting for a Rough-legged Hawk). Photo grabs are good enough to nail down a few key traits that are a fit for Ferruginous Hawk and not Rough-legged Hawk. They include the following: 1) Minimal black to primary tips as RLHA's should have much more. 2) Narrow white crescents at the wrists (see Sibley). RLHA's have a noticeably all dark wrist. 3) Exceptionally boldly white flight feathers. 4) The tail, while never fanned, shows no apparent terminal band as would be the case with RLHA. A very good match for this Ferruginous Hawk can be seen here - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/577715631

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

ISO

100

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

308 pixels x 323 pixels

Original file size

16.64 KB