Subject: Krider's Red-tailed Hawk near Monroe
Date: Nov 18 17:27:04 2000
From: Alan J. Knue - bluecrow at home.com
Mike Donahue and I drove out to the area just south of Monroe this
afternoon to look for the light-phased Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk being
reported. We found a bird behind the Grange building, along Tualco Road,
that from a distance appeared to be a light-phased Harlan's Hawk.
Through a scope, however, we could see that this was not a Harlan's for
a couple reasons:
1. Tail was extensively white at the base, but strongly washed in bright
rufous distally- there was also a narrow dark brown subterminal band,
and white terminal band; the tail of all phases of Harlan's is whitish
or greyish, with a smudgy wash or mottling of darker coal grey, forming
a blurry subterminal band distally. However, from a distance in flight
this individual's tail appeared white with a smudgy greyish subterminal
band, and very like a Harlan's should look.
2. Strong reddish-brown tones in general, whereas a Harlan's is more
cold brown-black.
Other characters that support a Krider's, but are similar in pale
Harlan's:
3. Extensive white in the scapulars and coverts, forming a pale 'v' down
its back; a pale Harlan's should have much less white in these areas,
although this is variable.
4. Wing-tips fell short of the tail. Most Western Red-tails have longer
wings, reaching the tail-tip.
5. Very white head, appearing white cleanly streaked in dark brown. This
feature is variable in Harlan's, but most have heavier more extensive
streaking on the head.
6. Bright white underparts, with little streaking- probably the bird's
most striking character. There was no rufous or buff wash and no breast
band. Light-phased Harlan's also have extensively white/sparsely
streaked underparts.
This is a beautiful bird, and an exciting find. Definitely go check it
out.
Good birding,
AJ
--
______________________________
Alan J. Knue
bluecrow at home.com
Seattle, WA