ML645582719

Observation details

A light colored RTHa perched on roadside fence post prompted a closer look and photos. Closer inspection noted a whitish head, a bright white breast and belly with distinct, dark spots forming a breast band. In flight, the hawk exhibited a white base to the tail with a dark distal half and brownish mantle and upper wings Photos revealed more detail including white irises and dark bars on a brown tail. Our conclusion was that the bird was an immature light phase Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk. The light irises and barred tail are marks of an immature. The whitish head and bright white underside with a distinct, dark scattered breast spots are marks of a light phase Harlan's. The similar immature Krider's Red-tail would be expected to have a paler tail and breast band.