For all you hawk experts out there, could you please help with
identification of the Red-shouldered Hawk (RSHA)(first year) that is at
McNary Refuge. Here are some details noted by Tony Greager 1/24/96. Your
comments are appreciated.

Characteristics that suggest RSHA:

1) Barred leg feathers - heavy
2) Barred undertail coverts - heavy
3) Checkered or barred belly - not vertically striped
4) Yellow legs
5) some appearance of a smaller or shorter bill, smaller overall size,
longer winged
6) has primaries with a light base - only from below, doesn't show from top
7) tail striped
8) upper wing coverts and scapulars are uniformly fringed/ notched with
white giving an overall mottled appearence. Red-tails generally have
limited white fringing forming 2 distinct white streaks on each side of the
back.


Characteristics that may not suggest RSHA:

1) Way out of range
2) Frequently hovers (over open field)
3) glides like RTHA (wing and body attitude)
4) soars like a RTHA (flap to glide ratio, attitude)
5) soars with other RTHA
6) flaps like a RTHA
7) wing width similar to RTHA
8) no window or crescent on upper wing
9) no rufous or tawny coloration apparent
10) barring on front of bird not uniform above belly - some clearing right
under chin, barring continues up on side

Are any of these totally inconsistent with RSHA?


Tony saw this bird flying with other RTHA and could not separate it by
behavior or silhouette naked eye, only by markings with binoculars.

What else should we be looking for? Since we don't usually have these birds
here, we are trying to make sure of the identification.

We plan to continue to observe the bird and take photos.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com