ML632780252

Observation details

Trapped and tagged as part of the Red-tailed Hawk Project. USGS band number 2187-22708. This bird now carries a GPS/GSM transmitter and I will update the checklist comments with a breeding location when it transmits the location. This dark morph is extremely rare in this region, although they do occur during the winter months in the state in very few numbers annually (1 or 2 per year). I expect this bird breeds in the northeast portion of Canada (Quebec or Newfoundland and Labrador) and represents a rare but regular dark morph of the subspecies abieticola (we do now know that dark Red-tailed Hawks do breed in eastern Canada - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.15010). I think this is supported by the vinaceous color to the breast with the noticeably darker bellyband, upper tail coverts that are not regularly banded, and under tail coverts that are not distinctly patterned or banded. Until we assess the relationships of these birds with other populations (genetically), I think placing these individuals under the calurus/abieticola label works well.