Bosque hawk ID, please?

[Nancy A Elwood]

I found this one and a darker version flying around together, even resting in the same tree together. I thought red-tailed, but then was not sure:confused: and the neck colors confused me. Thanks:)

http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/external/5002860_3117666_55396680_Web_2/0_0_8a041b685468bd52dd177069b63cde2a_1

[James Prudente]

Red-tailed Hawk, probably southwestern form.

[Nancy A Elwood]

Thank you James! There seems to be so many variations, sometimes makes it difficult.

Nancy

[Dan Brown]

Very nice shot Nancy! Yes, this is a young Red-tailed Hawk, hence no red tail! I'm sure that the experts have many field marks for IDing these guys, but for me, the dark area between the shoulder (or where the wing connects to the body) and the bend in the wing is the clencher field mark for all red-tails except the very dark morphs. This dark area is called the Patagium or Patagial mark, and it is almost fool proof for red-tail ID.

[Nancy A Elwood]

Very nice shot Nancy! Yes, this is a young Red-tailed Hawk, hence no red tail! I'm sure that the experts have many field marks for IDing these guys, but for me, the dark area between the shoulder (or where the wing connects to the body) and the bend in the wing is the clencher field mark for all red-tails except the very dark morphs. This dark area is called the Patagium or Patagial mark, and it is almost fool proof for red-tail ID.

Thank you very much Dan for a further explanation!:)

Nancy