Rob S. wrote to Jerry -


>>I took these photos by Davenport, WA last week before we went to AZ.
>>
>>What kind of Redtail is this--light--light Harlen's--Krider's or what??
>>
>
>Hey Jerry,
>
>looks like a Ferruginous to me. Immature perhaps; I don't have a color
>monitor, so I can't be sure about that.

On sober second thought, a run through my slides, and a read through
Clark & Wheeler, I will have to retract my first guess and agree with Rob
that this is a young Ferruginous Hawk. The clincher is the second shot of
it taking off from the pole: the wings are just too long and narrow for a
redtail and the primary window is of the correct shape compared to that
of a redtail. Also the bill is big with a smashing yellow gape which
should have been a giveaway. However, the prominent dorsal checkering is
more in line with a redtail than a ferrugie. Lots of individual
variation, I suppose.

- Jack

---------------------------
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca