Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Merlin or what?

  1. #1
    RevCurmudgeon
    Guest

    Default Merlin or what?


  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    White Rock, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,047
    Threads
    262
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Definitely not Merlin. Swainson's?

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    6,588
    Threads
    643
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Where and when was the image made? These two bits of information are really important in making an ID (I see your location but never assume images are made locally as so many of us travel). I'm ignoring the shape of the bird as this can be misleading in a single image. The pattern and colouration suggest juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (narrow white bands on tail, translucent spots in wings, overall pattern of red) or juvenile Northern Harrier (darkish head, overall pattern of red).

    Others?

  4. #4
    BPN Member Paul Lagasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Bells Corners, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    5,316
    Threads
    642
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Well its not a Sharpie...lololol..(sorry Roy couldn't resist)....agree with John, narrow white banding on tail, rust coloring on body and underwing coverts...Red-Shouldered. Location would really help here.

    Square tail and pointed wings really throw me though.....could be the angle, one of my books (Petersons Field Guide 2008) show a juvenile mississippi kite having squarer shorter tail with banding, pointed wings and this coloration but this is just a long shot.

    Rev did you get any other photos, from different angle?

  5. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    44
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It's a Red-shouldered Hawk. A lot of the fine detail is missing so the breast coloration doesn't come in too well but you can see the black and white barring on the wingtips as well as the bands on the tail.

    Matt

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    White Rock, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,047
    Threads
    262
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    [quote=Paul Lagasi;238649]Well its not a Sharpie...lololol..(sorry Roy couldn't resist)....agree with John, narrow white banding on tail, rust coloring on body and underwing coverts...Red-Shouldered. Location would really help here.quote]

    LOL That was my next guess. I'm not familiar with Red-Shoulders or Broad wings, never seen a wild one of either. I picked Swainson's because to me they can look more falconine (is that a word) than any other broad winged hawk. Also I thought there was a bib showing.

  7. #7
    RevCurmudgeon
    Guest

    Default

    Sorry to take so long getting back. The image was taken at Felsenthal NWR in South Central Arkansas, just north of the Louisiana state line. I've since photographed a Red Shouldered Hawk in the same area and believe it is the same bird. Here is a recent shot of what I believe is the same bird From 04-11-09.


  8. #8
    RevCurmudgeon
    Guest

    Default

    Image did not post in my previous response. Here is a link instead:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/revcurmudgeon/3431680907/

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics