Hello Chris

Since having started birding just last November we have only seen
Rough-legged Hawks in the spring and now with all the juv. Hawks around, it
makes it tough to seperate them. Especially when the Rough-leggeds are not
even here yet. :-) Just wait until they get here--to quote the famous Ruth
"Get the photo--get the photo!"

We do have the "typical" mature (according to the field guides) Raptors down
fairly well.
ie. Red-tailed, Harrier, Swainsons, Ferruginous etc. Of all of them, the
Swainson's let us approach the closest.

Thanks for the reply.

Jerry Converse
Grand Coulee, WA

Christine Maack wrote:

> You can probably keep the Red-tail on your list, Jerry. One of my friends
> learned raptor ID from a guy who advised him always to start with the
> question: "Why would this *not* be a Red-tailed Hawk?"
>
> Can't help you on quick and dirty ways to recognize a Rough-
> legged, sorry. Northern Harrier is about the only raptor I can spot
> fast with any degree of assurance, and then only on my home
> turf where I know the list of possibilities.
>
> Chris Maack
> CMaack at compuserve.com