13 replies to this topic

[JeffR]

Nice to get a visit from a owl near Halloween!

http://pinterest.com...15300704295490/

[TheBillyPilgrim]

This is actually a hawk of some kind! It's a Buteo, I believe, but I'm not sure I can pin it to species based on this shot. Possibly a Red-shouldered?

[betiam]

Not sure if you've already posted your other birds for ID, but your "new finch" is a dark-eyed junco and your "mysterious colorful bird" is a northern flicker.

[spookyjimjams]

Agreed, this looks like a Red-shouldered Hawk.

[psweet]

I wouldn't call this a Red-shouldered Hawk without a better photo -- not in Albequerque. My first inclination was Red-tailed, actually, some of the western birds show only limited white on the scapulars, especially the front ones.

[PoorMatty]

Really looks like an Accipiter to me. I don't see Buteo here.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

I was thinking along the same lines as PoorMatty... My original thought was Sharp-shinned, based on the buggy-eyed expression, but I won't call it based on this photo.

[Liam]

Really looks like an Accipiter to me. I don't see Buteo here.

Accipiter was my GISS as well - proportions, smaller bill, dark mantle.

[jdeitsch]

Northern Goshawk maybe?

[psweet]

I don't much like what I can see of the upper breast for Accipiter -- but I think, in any case, we're not going to come up with a definitive answer based on this one photo.

[BirdingBlues]

If it's an consolation, my first impression is an immature Red-shouldered or Red-tailed. Not really getting the Accipiter vibe here, but what the hey do I know

[blackburnian]

i just can't see accipiter here

[spok4]

it sure does look like a northern goshawk, especially 'round the eyes.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

The reason I went Buteo on this guy was the apparent lack of streaking on the breast. Never seen an immature accipiter look that unstreaked. I agree that we'll probably never be sure from just this shot, though.