Bill and Nancy detailed:

>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
^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is the most important distinction. Do you mean vertically striped,
or horizontally barred here? It would have to be barred rather than
striped for RSHA... or Broad-winged. By the way, just about all raptors
have white feather bases.

>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.

<cut>

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
CANADA
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca