Deborah Allen and I think you have a juvenile (first-year) RL Hawk at Croton. The tail band on the underside of the tail is light (grey) and not dark (almost black). This is characteristic of young RLs. Adults have a black terminal band (males darker than females; and adult males have a few more thin bars on the underside of the tail than do the adult females). As in most raptors, females are larger than males...So we think you have a young RL - but we cannot sex it based upon your photos (size is difficult to judge in photos). Your final photo of the RL (perched showing top side of tail) shows a strong (dark) tail band...if (for whatever reason) the underside tail band was this dark, then we would agree that you have an adult female RL...but all your other shots indicate to us you have a first-year bird, sex unknown...We would say you have a light morph bird too...(Bill Clark might call it an intermediate morph - since there can be much lighter RLs.)
Several RLs now appearing in the area - Meadowlands (NJ) seems to have several...at least one place in the Bronx has a light morph annd a dark morph.
Thanks for the detailed information, Robert. As to the sex, even though the tail band is lighter in the BIF photos than the perched picture, multiple bands (male) are not seen. Also, from the BIF and perched photos a nearly complete dark brown belly is viewed. I agree that size comparisons, and therefore sex, cannot be made from the single bird photos.
genemiller wrote:
Thanks for the kind words, Martin! What raptors have you viewed in Switzerland? Have you seen Golden Eagles?
GENE
Gene
The only raptors I saw in the wild in Swtzerland are called Milan Noir which I think translates to Black Buzzards. I did see lots of eagles and other raptors just across the border in France but these were in an Aviary called Les Oseaux du Leman. If you go to their webste they have a video of a BE flying alongside a hanglider and actually landing to get some food and then taking off again!
Martin
Nello Milanese wrote:
Sweet shots of this guy! i can't help but notice that in some poses he/she looks like an owl almost
They have beautiful underwing markings!
Thanks for viewing and your kind remarks, Nello! I can't agree with you more; her underwing markings are unique and beautiful.
KirkB wrote:
Very nice BIF shots Gene... 3, 4, and 6 are my favorites, I really like #3.
Well done.
Kirk
Thanks for your nice words, and picking favorites, Kirk! I also am partial to number 3. There was a strong wind blowing and the Rough-Legged Hawk was just hanging in the air. I am sorry I didn't grab my 2X extender. I would have had to use manual focus, but it might have been worth it!
Mr Zoom wrote:
Beautiful ratopr, Gene. I've never seen one here on the left coast and would love to encounter one some day.
Was she in hover mode in #3 or merely checking out the sights below?
Ken
Thanks for viewing, Ken. One of my handbooks states that the Rough-Legged Hawk is indigenous to northern California and States north. Hopefully you will encounter this beautiful hawk some day soon!!
