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Buteo sp. (platypterus or lineatus)
wooded areas and edges, hammocks, roadsides near woods.
Red-shoulder Hawk? juvenile??? I think it is a Broad-winged Hawk, however based on these 2 photos it is perhaps not possible to distinguish it from a Red-shouldered. See discussion below.
Spotted on Nov 4, 2012
Submitted on Dec 31, 2012
8 Comments
Nice series! Regardless what it is, I'd love you to add this to the mission Raptors of North America: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8627...
For adults and juvies? I'm afraid I don't have a Peterson's, but take a look at these Broad-wingeds (clearly not Red-shouldered due to the lack of barring on the secondaries):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mesquakie8/...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewweber/2...
http://www.fallroadarcher.com/2012/08/br...
http://www.nuvo.net/images/blogimages/20...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6118...
Peterson seems to make a clear distinction in the white scapular markings. See Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America.
Just to clarify, Broad-winged do show white on the scaps during their adolescent plumages. Scap markings are most reliable in the adult plumage, since the amount of white on the scaps is variable in both juvenile Red-shouldereds and Broad-wingeds.
You make a valid point, Livan. Broad-winged is definitely still a plausible candidate, especially if the wing "windows" are actually just an element of the photo. Breast streaking is somewhat suggestive of Broad-winged, looking again.
I'm still open to either species here. Any additional photos are welcome.
Thank you guys so much... the more I look at this guy the more I think Broad-winged. Taking your suggestions, I've look through many pictures on line and in the guides I have, here is one thing I'm noticing: "most of the red shouldereds have a dark brown chin area (from beak down the neck); many of the broad-winged have it white like my pic. Also in shot 2 (unfortunately there is too much motion blur) what looks translucent may not be (since the light was coming from the front and were I was, not from above so much) what I am noticing (specially close to the body, where there's less blur, is that the wing is very white underneath with a very heavy black edge all around and I don't see much or any barring. That looks to me much more like a broad winged wing to me now. If you guys are not persuaded by those observations, I'll go with your suggestion of Red-shouldered since I respect your experience in this.
Maybe its a Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
White on the scapular primaries is another indication of Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. Broad-winged Hawks usually lack any scapular markings.
Red-shouldered is most likely yes. However, during parts of the year (all except Summer) you also have Broad-winged. Juveniles of these two species can be difficult to differentiate, but a shot of the secondaries should clinch it. Red-shouldered have barring on their secondaries; Broad-winged don't.
However, I think the second shot will be ample for an ID. I'm seeing a "window" on the primary feathers - an area on the wing that is paler, more translucent, than the rest of the wing. Broad-winged only rarely show this, while Red-shouldered always do.
Aside from this, Red-shouldered outnumber Broad-winged greatly in Florida during the winter months, since most Broad-winged winter in Mexico and Central/South America.