Can someone give me some easy tips on how to tell the difference between the three while they are flying? I've seen several large birds flying above me while driving, etc., but I can never tell what type of bird it is since it just looks like a dark bird against the sky. I'm often told by my husband that it's just a vulture, but how can you really tell?
Today, I spotted another large bird flying along above me and saw it coming in for a landing close by. I turned my car back around and as soon as I did saw it standing on a branch in front of me. I got off my car and it didn't fly away...now I can tell it was some sort of falcon. I'm so new to birds, I'd have to wait until I got home and saw my bird guide to tell what exactly it was. It was dark brown atleast 12" tall. Hooked/curved beak.
I know I have to differentiate the difference between Eagles and Vultures a lot. Both of them will glide but the Vulture tends to flap, flap,flap and glide where as the Eagle will have a constant swing of the wings and doesn't glide very much at low levels (generally). Also if you see them sitting on a pole, the Vulture has a much narrower neck and smaller head. The Eagle will have much better posture and is less likely to be slumped over. Most hawks are smaller in size than both and "do" tend to do quite a bit of gliding at low levels.
Vultures tend to fly in large groups and not flap their wings at all - they ride thermals and generally glide in large circles without flapping. They are brown/black and patternless. They're also quite large. They don't seem to perch much - when they do, it's usually on a tree as opposed to wires, posts, fences, etc.
The hawks will flap more, won't hang out in large groups, are more likely to perch on posts and wires, and often show a visible wing patterning.
Compact sport binoculars and a bird guide always help!
I don't always carry my camera in my car and even if I did I get embarrased to get out my camera and big white lens. I also sometimes get scared somebody might follow me home! Anyway, I may get a pair of binoculars to keep in the car.
It must have been a hawk I saw then since it was gliding at low levels.
Raptor identification is very tough but there are some tell tale signs. Here are a quick few:
Vultures rarely flap their wings and have a distinctive v-shape while soaring. Their wing tips are slightly pointed as well.
Eagles and hawks keep their wings almost flat across while soaring but usually have a flap flap glide flight pattern. Their wings tips are rounded in shape. Eagles wings are longer (tip to body) in relation to wide (front to back) a good 25% or more than hawks. The large size of the eagle will distinguish it from the hawks if you can't see the color or head features. Although there are some pretty big hawks.
Falcons flap more than the first two. Their wing tips are very pointed and the wing as a whole is narrower from front to back than the hawks or eagles. They also have longer, slimmer tails in flight.
Get a good reference book and really study the flight photos in it. Most have pages comparing similiar birds of prey in flight.
Good luck and keep observing and you will be surprised how quickly you can ID birds.
Another clue for vultures is that there are no feathers on the head, so it looks tiny and out of place on the large body and wide wingspan. When backlit vultures wings are transluscent. You will see dark areas where the heavy wing muscles, bones and tendons are located on the leading edge, but the rest is almost see thru.
May I suggest you look at Petersons Field Guide for birds. Look at Dark birds of prey overhead. You should be able to make a good ID by noteing the shape and size of the bird. Small edition will fit nicely in the glove compartment.
Lou
There is a basic rule for U.S. raptors. Assume its a Red-tailed Hawk until you can prove it's something else.
This is only partly said in jest. There are many variations in plumage to Red-tails and, in many parts of North America, it is the most numerous of the Hawk/Eagle family, that you should learn what it looks like as well as you can.
Thanks for the link. I have the Sibley guide and it is helpful, but I'm still a little confused as to what the wings should look like up above. The Vulture's look almost just like the hawks - a little feathered at the ends.
