7 replies to this topic

[Hanalei]

Saw this flying around in Michigan today. It was flying near some Northern Harrier hawks. Unfortunately, these are the best pictures I got. Anyone have any guesses of what it might be?





A side note: while kayaking recently, we saw some eagles (could hear the call, so no doubt about them being eagles) and they appeared to have orange diamond-shaped markings on the undersides of their wings. Not sure if the coloring was odd to us because they were in the sun, but what kind of eagle woudl that be? We assumed Golden Eagles, becuase they were definitely not bald eagles, but we're not sure on that, either. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures.

[Indybirder]

Looks like a Turkey Vulture.

[creeker]

I agree with Turkey Vulture here.

[Julie H]

Third vote on TV...

Julie

[MWM]

Agree with turkey vulture on this pic (underwing pattern makes for a positive ID). It can be difficult to tell a Golden Eagle from an immature Bald - especially if lighting isn't good. Here's a pic of a couple juvenile Bald Eagles for reference.

[BarnSwallow]

I' wondering how you could tell from their call. If you're going by what you've heard associated with eagles on TV, they were probably red-tailed hawks. That's the screech they always play on TV and the movies when they show an eagle. Eagles don't have very impressive voices - kind of weak-sounding yelps.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I' wondering how you could tell from their call. If you're going by what you've heard associated with eagles on TV, they were probably red-tailed hawks. That's the screech they always play on TV and the movies when they show an eagle. Eagles don't have very impressive voices - kind of weak-sounding yelps.

Agreed. They aren't all that loud, either.

[Hanalei]

It was basically the same sound we've heard when we see bald eagles - and yes, I'm 100% positive that's what those are when we see them. It sort of sounds like the red hawk (just looked up clips of them), but it's the same thing I hear from bald eagles... the same general call. But after looking at the picture MWM posted and others online, I think the ones we saw the other day were young bald eagles. Maybe just the way the sun was hitting them made them look orange.

Turkey vulture, huh? I really wish I'd been able to get a better picture! I think you guys are right, though - certainly looks more like that than any of the other birds I looked at! Thank you all for your help!