Adult light-morph Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk - If Not, Critique and Id Help Request

[Amol Khedgikar]

Hi,

A chance encounter with this guy had baffled me about a month ago. Looked and behaved exactly like a Red tailed Hawk except the plumage of course. Since I couldnt have a definitive ID on this guy and a decent shot. I kept going to the same area to get it. Today was a good morning, Chilly , windy but fruitful.

This is an extremely skittish bird but some planning, after spotting him from a distance, went a long way today.

Hope you all like it , I am being told that it is a very uncommon bird to be even seen forget photograph in our area. I have only known HArlan's RTHs to be dark morph ever knew they came in light morph as well.

5DIII+700mm, ISO 640, F5.6, 1/2500 Handheld, (IS was not active in error)

If I got the ID wrong please correct me.

And as always Comments , Critique always welcome , requested and appreciated.

[Asta Tobiassen]

I think you are right on with the id, but I am no expert by any means, so here is a link to an article by a raptor expert, Jerry Liguori, on Harlan's Hawks versus Red-Tailed Hawks: http://www.aba.org/birding/v42n2p30.pdf. Jerry also has a good website of his own with tons of raptor pictures. How lucky you were to capture this beautiful bird. I love the birds full extension, oh, but if he just would have looked your way.
Asta

[keith mitchell]

Hi Amol, afraid I can't help with the ID ,looks like the focus is on the branch rather than the bird which does make the bird look a bit soft,but well done for getting what you have got.

Keith.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Incredibly rare capture, Amol! I'm "fairly good" with hawks, but I checked five field guides.... and also found this article by the American Birding Association which discusses and shows excellent comparisons between Red Tails, Krider's and Harlan's: http://www.aba.org/birding/v42n2p38.pdf ..... So, your ID looks pretty good to me too!

Great "take-off" shot with the upstretched wings.... good background.... bird does seem a bit soft.... but congrats on getting this photo!

[Bret Goddard]

Indeed, what a beauty, it is a tad soft but all in all very nice.