** Rob S. wrote -

Actually sounds more like a black morph than Harlan's to me. Quoting from
_Hawks in Flight_, re immature Harlan's: "A light chest and throat are
always present..."; the entire front of a black phase bird is dark. And
black phase is more likely to have no scapular marks than Harlan's. But
without more details it's going to hard to be sure. I'm going to try to get
out there to have a look, but don't know how soon I can manage it.

---------

There is that word "always" again. I doubt that *all* young Harlies have white
on the breast. Best discriminant is that the outer primaries on young Harlies
are barred on both vanes to at least half their length and probably all the
way down the feather. Only distal barring on outer vane on other Red-tail
immies. Best to see them in flight directly overhead to make sure if possible.

- Jack


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