Saturday, September 24, 2016

Red-tailed Hawk ‘Identification’

We see a variety of birds here in Florida and we are fortunate to see many just passing through.

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But I think the hardest ID is with juveniles.

This is probably a juvenile hawk. Is that what my birders think? And what kind of hawk?

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It stopped in the pine tree behind our house so we hubby had time to zoom in AND focus!

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You can see when he turns his head, how dark it is!

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Thanks for these AMAZING photos Mr. L D !

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I got lots of help identifying this beautiful bird. Thank you all SO very much! I knew I could count on you. It’s a Red-tailed Hawk. (Buteo jamaicensis)

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

43 comments:

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Such magnificent birds, for me they rank right up there with the Eagle, and Owl. We have several Hawks that soar around our home too.
Thank you for sharing this bit of nature with us!
Happy Saturday my friend,
Hugs,
jemma

eileeninmd said...

Hello, these are beautiful shots of the Hawk. It does have a pretty dark head. I wish I could help with the id, some Florida Hawks look different than the ones I see here. My guess would be the Red-tailed Hawk, but that is just a guess. Mr LD did take some amazing photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critters. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Wow to the great photos!!

Ricki Treleaven said...

It looks like a Cooper's Hawk. We have one that lives in the woods behind our house and he screams a lot during the day when he misses his prey. I feel sorry for him and want to feed him!

Latane Barton said...

You are correct. My picture and yours look so much alike, just different birds. That's crazy!!

Lea said...

Beautiful! Wonderful!
Have a great week-end!

TexWisGirl said...

he's just beautiful. i'd have guessed red-tailed, too.

Linda said...

I'm catching up with blog visiting after being away for just over 2 weeks Great photo of the hawk. I agree that the young birds are a challenge to ID Have a wonderful weekend.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I'll call him Coop. What a handsome fellow.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

GREAT SHOTS - WOW

Wish I could help identify but cannot.

Carola Bartz said...

I second the Cooper's Hawk. Fantastic shots!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Definitely a hawk (that is as far as my expertise goes ;))). Beautiful photographs though and sometimes that's all that matters! Thanks to both of you!

bj said...

Fabulous photos, Mr. LD......and a beauty of a bird...

EL RINCON DE CHELO said...

Que bonita estampa!!!!!!

Unknown said...

It could be a darker morph juvenile ferruginous hawk as well.

Carla from The River said...

Great photos!!
I agree, juvenile birds are so hard to identify. We had a juvenile oriel hanging around here. He was so funny, he was trying to drink out of our hummingbird feeder.

Anni said...

Oh I hear 'ya. Those hawks are sooooooooo difficult to ID. It could be a juvenile cooper's or a broad winged. I don't think it's a swainsons...they have way too much red on the breast, like a bar across it.

If I could see the body in full view, I could tell you if it's a cooper's or a broad winged. Cooper's have a very LONG tail while on the other hand the broad winged is much more stocky in shape and shorter tailed...but marked so similar. I'm gonna go for a broad winged hawk. Cooper's eyes are usually red. And this one seems to have yellow. Altho, a juvenile...well, they have yet to get the 'red' eye.

As always, I'm here not only to view your wonderful post, but also to send along my thanks for sharing with us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend!

You saw an eagle?!!!! Lucky day. Hope you're gonna save it for next week. If not, stop by Hootin' Anni's and let me know you posted the photos.

Debby said...

I would guess a hawk but wonder if it could possibly be a baby eagle. Great pictures.

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

It is indeed a Red-tailed Hawk. Its rounded body and mostly clear breast with scattered dark markings are most consistent with a Buteo. The sharp demarcation between its dark head and the white upper vreast with a "belly band" below the light area are characteristic of Red-Tailed Hawk. Coopers Hawk has an elongated "cylindrical" shape and young Coops have dark streaking rather than random larger dark breast spots. Very nice photos!

Diane said...

Great shots! Yes, what kind of hawk????

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Eastern Red-tailed Hawk. You can always tell by the belly band of darker feathers. Beautiful Images, very crisp and close up. I am still having some problems getting back in line and trying so very hard to get it together. Don't forget about me. Hugs~

Stephanie said...

WOW! Your photos are so incredibly clear and beautiful. What a majestic bird, my friend.

Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

Diane, what a gorgeous hawk. I have no idea what kind it is but I bet someone else will. ♥

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Great image. I think it is a red-tailed hawk too. Here's a link to a post of mine and I have a few pics of the red-tailed hawk in the post.

http://jbiggslittlepieces.blogspot.com/2016/08/barns-blooms-and-birds-wk-9.html

BeachGypsy said...

I think its a red tailed but not sure.
EITHER WAY......THOSE ARE SUPER GORGEOUS PICTURES!! great job!!!

Lorrie said...

Those are gorgeous photos of your hawk. I see you have some experts commenting who have identified it for you. Good thing, because beyond "hawk" I wouldn't know at all.

Danice G said...

Wow, does look like a hawk to me. Beautiful bird. 'Wish I could help with what species he is though. 'Think he may be a Red-Tailed Hawk, as eileeninmd already said :)

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane!:) Super shots of the Hawk. They are such beautiful birds, and you did it proud with these images.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

"Lovely shots of the young Red-tailed Hawk!," he consensus-ed.
~

Janey and Co. said...

I love spotting an unusual bird, and these are great pictures! I was lucky enough to snap a Red Tailed Hawk this summer in the Mountains.

Cold front coming into North Texas this morning with a lot of rain.

Have a nice Sunday...Janey

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Great capture of the juvie hawk. If Eileen doesn't know, then it's a mystery and she has identified birds for me from various places of vacation.
Happy autumn lavender sis!

Stacey said...

How beautiful!! I'm not sure what kind it is. Here in Texas and in Oklahoma too we see Red Tail hawks all the time. I just love them.

Cranberry Morning said...

Aren't those wonderful photos! Lots of hawks around here. Somebody's got to eat the deer on the road. :-((

Pam~ Virginia Retro said...

Such gorgeous photos! Whatever he is, he is magnificent.

Red Rose Alley said...

He DOES look like a young one. Such pretty eyes. These are great pictures that your husband took. I love the white on his stomach. :)

~Sheri

Prunella Pepperpot said...

What a wonderful image of the young hawk. It chose the perfect place to pose for you and it's stunning against the blue sky!
Have a brilliant week :)

NatureFootstep said...

a beautiful one. Sorry I can´t help.

Cherdecor said...

If my son were here, he could help you identify the hawk. Tomorrow he is planning to drive 2 hours north to see the migration of 6 or 7 thousand hawks on their migratory path....probably to your house so get ready! Beautiful pictures, by the way.

Debbie said...

Awesome captures, he landed in the perfect spot. I didn't read the other comments, but in my opinion, it is a red tailed hawk!!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Gorgeous shots - he did well. I have trouble with hawks unless the Red Tail Hawk is flying with the sun shining back through its red tail - and THEN I can identify it (I'm good, aren't I?) LOL You are lucky it stayed so long - the ones I see usually flit off right away.

Sam I Am...... said...

Those photos are amazing!

A Colorful World said...

Your juvenile hawk is stunning! Great shots!

Jaybird said...

Beautiful photos...kudos to Mr. LD!!
We have a Mrs.Coop who provided us with a baby coop...our summer entertainment was watching them! (and the 4 bazillion other birds who live in our back lot and yard) I think our squirrel population is down considerably though :^(
Thank you so much for the lovely pictures.
Blessings,
J