10 replies to this topic

[paulkienitz]

But what kind is it?

It was calling fairly often, going KEW KEW KEW like a ten year old boy pretending he's blasting enemy spaceships.

[paulkienitz]

While you're at it, maybe this very nondescript soarer can be clarified.

[ColoTomo]

Red-shouldered Hawk for me. Did you listen to the call on the Whatbird site ?

[creeker]

Nestling is a Red-shouldered Hawk, the hawk in flight is a Swainson's.

[ColoTomo]

Yep, agree with Swainson's Hawk

[paulkienitz]

Thanks. We get a lot of red-sholdereds there, so that ought to have been my first guess... is this a youngster or something?

On the Swainson's... man, sibley's paintings are no help at all with that one.

[ColoTomo]

Thanks. We get a lot of red-sholdereds there, so that ought to have been my first guess... is this a youngster or something?

Yep, the underwing pattern and face is clearly Red-shouldered Hawk, the chest pattern indicates the youth

On the Swainson's... man, sibley's paintings are no help at all with that one.

LOL. I think younger Swainson's trip a lot of people up. I'm thinking this may be 2nd year? There's a lot of dark around the head/neck area more like an adult, but the bottom (caudal) half of the wings are not filled in like an adult. The key ID points are lack of patagial markings to rule out Red-tailed, and look at the thin stripes in the carpal areas & darker edged primaries at the tips. Also look to the tail pattern , with the stripe at the bottom.

[creeker]

Paul, you didn't get the Swainson's in Lafayette, did you? I'm guessing you saw it near where you work.

[paulkienitz]

That's correct, it was in Napa. And by the way, I'm going to be moving there next month, right by the wetlands preserve, so you can just start eating your heart out with jealousy now and save time.

[creeker]

That's correct, it was in Napa. And by the way, I'm going to be moving there next month, right by the wetlands preserve, so you can just start eating your heart out with jealousy now and save time.

I was already jealous of your place in Lafayette with the Wild Turkey yardbirds!

[spookyjimjams]

Around here, no 2 Swainson's are alike. We have many dark morphs that can really trip you up. What you need to look for are the dark primaries, that's what makes Swainson's unique.