Tweeters,

Another great photo study.

Looks like Bud know his Hawks.

Here's a interesting quote from Sibley's Guide on page 121.
"Swainson's, Broad winged, and White-tailed Hawks have four notched primaries
("fingers"). All other Buteos have five.

Does this individual have 4.35?

I believe it was said that the picture was taken near Klamath Falls. Does that
put it a bit out of the Summer range for Ferruginous.?

I don't think anything has been said about the yellow eye. I haven't found any
info. on NA Hawk eye color other than Cooper's. Is this a juvenile thing?

Sure is distinctive.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah

Bud Anderson wrote:

> Hi,
> Interesting bird. Are there any more photos available?
> If the lengths of the primaries are portrayed accurately, then the third
> longest (instead of fourth) would make it a dark morph juv. Swainson's Hawk.
> This is the only western buteo with that feature.
> The head shape is not typical of a Ferruginous Hawk and I am not able to
> see the gape extension (under the eye) in this photo. Tail barring is not
> right either. Check out the cover on Wheeler's new book.
> And as had been pointed out earlier, there is no dark patagium, so
> unlikely to be a RTHA.
>
> Bud Anderson
> Falcon Research Group
> Box 248
> Bow, WA. 98232
> 360.757.1911