DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> Need Hawk/Eagle Identification
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 17 of 17, (reverse)
AuthorThread
01/16/2005 01:43:43 AM · #1
While I was out shooting for the Architecture challenge, I happened upon an Open Space area I've never been to before and decided to stop and hike for a bit.

When I first arrived I found this fabulous specimen sitting right next to a Bald Eagle. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to even raise my camera before the eagle flew off.

I'm not sure exactly what species this is whether hawk or eagle. I thought maybe one of you might have more luck. I'm guessing it's a Ferruginous Hawk. My wife thinks maybe it was an immature bald eagle. Anyone??





01/16/2005 01:52:09 AM · #2
Where were you?
01/16/2005 01:57:21 AM · #3
Light morph of an immature ferruginous hawk.
01/16/2005 01:58:42 AM · #4
That'd be my guess too. I'm in Colorado, Denver suburbs.
01/16/2005 02:05:15 AM · #5
Originally posted by MWitt:

That'd be my guess too. I'm in Colorado, Denver suburbs.


It was not all that hard. There are not a lot of eagles or hawks with a white breast even in the imature stage. Add the yellow feet and cere and it narrows down quickly.

Message edited by author 2005-01-16 02:10:48.
01/16/2005 02:07:57 AM · #6
What would it be doing hanging out with a bald eagle? It was sitting on the branch right next to it. Is this common?
01/16/2005 02:11:58 AM · #7
Originally posted by MWitt:

What would it be doing hanging out with a bald eagle? It was sitting on the branch right next to it. Is this common?


It's not a bald eagle. The bald eagle has a yellow beak
01/16/2005 02:14:48 AM · #8
If you read my first post I said that I saw a bald eagle sitting right next to it when I first arrived. It flew off before I could get my camera ready. But I'm positive it was a bald eagle. I was just wondering if it was common for them to hang out and be buddies! :)

Message edited by author 2005-01-16 02:21:11.
01/16/2005 02:21:28 AM · #9
Originally posted by MWitt:

If you read my first post I said that I saw a bald eagle sitting right next to it when I first arrived. It flew off before I could get my camera ready. But I'm positive it was a bald eagle.


I've seen birds of prey of different species hang together. I don't think it is all that uncommon. I'm going to guess and say that was an isolated tree. Not that they were best friends, just that they hunt from the same vantage point.
01/16/2005 02:29:42 AM · #10
Ferruginous hawk for sure. Bald eagle has yellow beak and feet.

Robt.
01/18/2005 03:23:12 PM · #11
Here is another hawk from Saturday. Came to visit at work. Thought I was sneaking up on him, but figured out later that he just didn't care. Must have had a good hunting perch.
01/18/2005 04:41:04 PM · #12
Originally posted by MWitt:

What would it be doing hanging out with a bald eagle? It was sitting on the branch right next to it. Is this common?

Bald eagles are actually pretty gentle birds (unless of course you are a golden eagle) and are pretty much eaters of fish.
01/18/2005 05:13:28 PM · #13
according to my audobon field guide it is a red tail hawk the ferruginous hawk has a speckled chest this bird has a white chest stocky build and the rust colors of the red tail hawk
01/18/2005 06:43:15 PM · #14
Well, gentlemen, here's a third opinion. First off, let me say that there is a great deal of variety in birds of prey, even in individuals of the same species. However that, my friends, is an Osprey, as unlikely as that may seem in Colorado. The white breast and the line through the eye, as well as the shape of the head and the fact that s/he was in the same area as a Bald Eagle (another fish-eater), makes it a near certainty in my opinion.

The other hawk picture by scrum8 is a typical Redtail, very similar to the Redtail I trapped and hunted with in the 1980s in Louisiana. I decided after that first year that falconry wasn't for me, at least not at that time, but I have always thought I might become involved with raptor rehab after retiring. Birds are a favorite photographic subject of mine, and birds of prey are the most striking of all birds to my eye. Thanks for the great pictures, I never get tired of seeing them.

Here, by the way, is an unlikely visitor to Virginia that I shot a few weeks ago. No disputing that ID, is there :)


Message edited by author 2005-01-18 18:52:47.
01/18/2005 07:00:04 PM · #15
Originally posted by nova:

Well, gentlemen, here's a third opinion. First off, let me say that there is a great deal of variety in birds of prey, even in individuals of the same species. However that, my friends, is an Osprey, as unlikely as that may seem in Colorado. The white breast and the line through the eye, as well as the shape of the head and the fact that s/he was in the same area as a Bald Eagle (another fish-eater), makes it a near certainty in my opinion.



I would have to say you were off on that. The osprey lacks the yellow cere and toes. Also the osprey has long circle hooked claws and in these pictures it is very easy to see that these are not osprey claws.

I'll stick with what I said. This is a light morph of an immature ferruginous hawk

Message edited by author 2005-01-18 19:03:43.
01/18/2005 08:20:44 PM · #16
Originally posted by MWitt:

I'm not sure exactly what species this is ... Anyone??

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Light morph of an immature ferruginous hawk.

Originally posted by petspics:

according to my audobon field guide it is a red tail hawk

Originally posted by nova:

... that, my friends, is an Osprey...


So there you go, MWitt! May I suggest that you post your picture at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center at

//www.ahc.umn.edu/ahc_content/colleges/vetmed/Depts_and_Centers/Raptor_Center/?nav=9484&parent=1353&type=S&content_path=colleges/vetmed/Depts_and_Centers/Raptor_Center&content_name=Raptor_Center&pic=Vet_sign.jpg&gif=Raptor_Center
for a more definitive answer?! I'm really not sure which bird that is after doing a little more web research. nsbca7 may well be right. But take a look at these pics of a

ferruginous hawk:


and osprey:


that I pulled from the web.
I can't honestly say which it is, whether in a white phase or not. Good luck!
01/18/2005 09:15:18 PM · #17
I'm mostly convinced that dsbca7 had the correct reply. After doing an extensive search myself I have to agree based on the following criteria:

1. If you look at the beak, it is yellow. An osprey has a black beak.
2. If you look at the photo of the bird in flight, you can see that the legs are covered all the way down with brown feathers. Osprey legs are white.
3. This was a very large bird, nearly as big as the Bald Eagle.
4. Based off of the following photos.
closeup of beak
Immature Light Phase with black line over eye
This one shows Light phase and leg color.

What's really cool about all this is that it is really rare to find one of these here in colorado. And there happened to be two of them in the same tree when I left. How uncommon is that?

I appreciate everyones thoughts and comments.

Scrum8, Nice closeup of the redtail.
nova, will definitely check out your link, and thanks.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 07:08:57 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 07:08:57 PM EDT.