>
> On Mon, 21 Aug 1995, Dean Wampler wrote:
>
> > My wife and I saw a raptor twice last week that may have been a white-tailed
> > (black-shouldered) kite. We would like some help confirming or refutting this
> > identification.
> >
> [snip...snip]
> >
> > In summary, the tail and body plumage seem to rule out almost everything else:
> > Red Tails, including Harlans, Rough Legs, Eagles, Accipiters, and Osprey's.
> > Have there been any other sightings recently of white-tailed kites in the
> > area?
>
> Greetings-
>
> the only other bird that might fit that description is a male N. Harrier..
> however, however, I seem to recall that kites have been spotted in the
> Seattle area last spring some time. The lack of hovering is curious...
> *Hawks in Flight*, by Dunne, Sibley & Sutton, mentions that strong white
> rump patch in the Harrier...they call the N. Harrier the Great Fooler, as
> it's continually mistaken in hawk counts for accipiters and even peregrines..
> The chapter on kites points to the distinctive black patches on the
> shoulders.. Looks like you've seen a kite...
>
> Tom

Tom,

I didn't mention male Harriers, but I ruled them out, too. I don't have my
copy of Clark's field guide or "Hawks in Flight", but I recall that male
Harriers have "plenty" of markings on the underside of the tail and body.
This bird was almost completely clear, except for some spotting on the bib
and the grayish feathers in the center of the tail. Also, the wing and tail
shapes didn't look right for a Harrier.

Another respondent mentioned the fact that juvenals often wander far from their
breeding sight. This bird's bib markings and tail plumage were consistent
with juvenal plumage. It also seemed a little awkward in flight (to my naive
eyes, anyway ;^).

By the way, for those of you who don't live near Seattle, I should have
mentioned that Redmond is ~10-15 miles east of Seattle, across Lake Washington.
Sorry.

Thanks to those of you who responded.

dean
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