Jim:
> The head and breast were brown-white mottled, but mostly white, and the
> back was brown. There was a distintive white "ring" that extended along
> the throat and up around the back of the head (which sorted of reminded me
> of an owl).

tom:
> given your description, there's really only one raptor that fits
>those ID points..an immature Harris Hawk..my guess is a falconer's bird,
>although you didn't say anything about bracelets..sometimes falconers
>take the leather off their birds when they put them up for the moult..
>the white butt patch, brown back and *all wrong head* seem to add up..

But the white "ring" around the throat and back of head doesn't seem
right, and supposedly immy Harris' hawks have a pale belly. I'm
not extremely familiar with this species, though I've seen quite
a few in Texas, NM and AZ (hope those two letter codes are acceptable!)
and I've never seen any variation from the norm. They aren't listed
as coming in various morphs etc, unlike redtails which can vary from
pure white to black.

Of course, a molting bird can look pretty wierd and 'tis that
time of year.

I wish I could molt, its extremely hot here in PDX right now!


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>