10 replies to this topic

[jajean]

Tough one for me. I thought dark phase red-tailed hawk. Others thought short-tailed. I saw this in Puebla, in central Mexico.

Attached Files

•  IMG_1976.jpg   13.93K   75 downloads

[JBakerphotography]

Almost looks like a turkey vulture, but not sure.

[fisherman1313]

I'm thinking immature Zone-tailed Hawk (head is way to big for TV). White-tailed Hawk would be pretty far out of range and according to Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion White-tailed almost never wander.

[psweet]

The wing shape and the tail banding suggests immature Broad-wing, especially the fact that it only shows 4 "fingers". It's possible that there's some sort of Mexican Buteo I don't know about, though, so don't consider this a firm ID.

[fisherman1313]

I think the body is too dark for Broad-winged and BWHA would also show a dark trailing edge on the remiges and rectices. Plus, BWHA would be pretty far out of range as well. Not saying BWHA is impossible in New Mexico but not likely.

[Joejr14]

I think the body is too dark for Broad-winged and BWHA would also show a dark trailing edge on the remiges and rectices. Plus, BWHA would be pretty far out of range as well. Not saying BWHA is impossible in New Mexico but not likely.

Well, the issue here is that the bird was seen in Mexico, not New Mexico. BWHA's migration routes do take them over Mexico, but since Sibley's doesn't show range maps for Mexico specifically I can't say if they're 'in range'. I would assume they are, but I'm too lazy to verify with a google search. Also, the darker BWHA's body matches up pretty well, and they do have four fingers.

I'm not saying that's what this is, but I think it's a viable option. I don't think White-tailed based off the wing shape and pattern of the tail. Both appear to be wrong for WTHA.

[fisherman1313]

I misread the original post. Forget most of what I said.

Stokes shows a good deal of Mexico in the range maps and has BWHA's migration route as being along the Gulf Coast. Puebla could very well be in range. But, as I said, BWHA would have a dark trailing edge on wings and tail. After checking a few more sources I believe that immature White-tailed is the right ID.

[psweet]

Actually, fisherman, you're point about the trailing edge on this bird got me thinking. I think the body color is a result of backlighting and distance, although there is a (pretty rare) dark morph in Broad-wings, so even that wouldn't rule out a BWHA. With respect to the trailing edge, it's broad and blackish in adults, but by the tail this couldn't be an adult anyways. It's narrow and grayish in immatures, and I think I could fit that into what I'm seeing here. But -- that's not the same as saying that's what it is. Right now, without more info on that area, I don't think I can say for sure what this is.

Oh, and a quick check revealed that Puebla is a ways west of Veracruz. It looks like it's far enough inland to be out of the main migration path, but certainly not out of the realm possibility, especially for a bird that would be a bit of a straggler.

[fisherman1313]

I checked ebird and there are several sighting for BWHA in as far west as Mexico City but they are mostly winter records. The latest I could find was early April. I think this is one we'll just have to call a "could-be-this or could-be-that".

[jajean]

Interesting conversation everyone. This definitely is a tricky one. Puebla is a little out of range of short-tailed and white-tailed, but not too far out of range. Broad winged hawks are uncommon here. There are a few reports, but probably not so late in the year.

The image definitely has a back lighting problem, making the bird body seem very dark. But I saw it in better lighting prior to the photo and it was dark, although maybe not black.

Oh well, I give up.

[jajean]

Oh, and here's a twist. I saw the bird in the photos below in the same spot two months ago. This bird was another maybe white-tailed hawk juvenile...

http://mexicanjajean...ailed-hawk.html