20 replies to this topic

[renitiadb]

Seen last week in Loyalton California. I first thought Osprey, but my mom thought they were eagles. Now that I look at the photos I think we are both wrong. Any ideas??

[fisherman1313]

Baby Red-tail. In the third pic you can see the belly band and the dark patagial mark.

[renitiadb]

Seriously???? OMG - I give up hahahahaha whenever I question what raptor I am looking at I am just going to assume it is some stage / morph Red Tail! =D

[fisherman1313]

Red-tail is the default Buteo for most of the US for much of the year.

[BarnSwallow]

I agree with red-tailed. The osprey-like look is because it mostly has its down left on its face, but has some adult feathers on the top of its head, giving it the two-toned look of an osprey.

[psweet]

This is actually a much odder bird than it seems at first glance. It's got a very heavy belly band and flanks, but a very pale chest, and a very pale tail. And the eyes appear to be dark brown, which doesn't fit young Red-tail at all. It would be interesting to see some more pics as the bird gets older.

[renitiadb]

When my mom went back by the nest both juveniles were gone . . . fledged already? I'll send photos to my ornithologist and see what she thinks. =)

[creeker]

When my mom went back by the nest both juveniles were gone . . . fledged already? I'll send photos to my ornithologist and see what she thinks. =)

Yeah, you took those pics last week. I would expect them to have left the nest by now.

[renitiadb]

OK - The ornithologist came back with a verdict: young Osprey! =)

[fisherman1313]

I have to disagree with your ornithologist. An Opsrey would not have the dark patagial mark, belly band or this much white on the tertials, but would have longer, thinner wings (with a dark carpal patch), a white belly and feathered toes.

[JimUSNY]

not an osprey, the nest doesn't even look like an osprey nest to me, at least the ones I see are much more sloppily made.. looks more like red tail to me

[renitiadb]

I have passed on your comments to her - my mother has a contact at Cornell so we are sending them the photos for a confirmation one way or another! =)

[BarnSwallow]

Yeah, not an osprey. Here's a good pic of a young osprey. http://www.flickr.co...N03/5234350677/

[creeker]

LOL on the ornithologist! Point out to him that Ospreys at any age have yellow eyes. Definite Red-taileds there.

[renitiadb]

OK Cornell has weighed in and you all win! The Ornithologist was wrong - it is a Red-Tailed Hawk. Per Cornell:

"I can certainly see why you were not sure which youngsters were in this nest. I can also see why you thought they might have been Osprey chicks. The pale chest and white spotting on the scapulars make these Red-tailed Hawks. The Osprey-like mask is the result of the faces not being fully feathered yet. If they were Ospreys, their back feathers would be black with neat white chevrons at the tips."

[BarnSwallow]

OK Cornell has weighed in and you all win! The Ornithologist was wrong - it is a Red-Tailed Hawk. Per Cornell:

"I can certainly see why you were not sure which youngsters were in this nest. I can also see why you thought they might have been Osprey chicks. The pale chest and white spotting on the scapulars make these Red-tailed Hawks. The Osprey-like mask is the result of the faces not being fully feathered yet. If they were Ospreys, their back feathers would be black with neat white chevrons at the tips."

Hm, I think someone mentioned this! *ahem*

[renitiadb]

LOL - yup =) Can't wait to hear what the ornithologist says =)

[creeker]

LOL - yup =) Can't wait to hear what the ornithologist says =)

Maybe he should join this forum. He might learn a thing or two.

[Cicero31]

When I have a question about birds, Cornell is the second place I go. The people on this site are serious and experts and highly apt at making fine distinctions.

The lesson here is that people with titles aren't always experts. Experts are judged by their track records (flight paths?).

[psweet]

Another lesson to be learned here is that people with the title Ornithologist are often very specialized.