Birding and Bird Photography

A few from the last couple of days.

 

That is a first-year red-tailed hawk. A first-year grey hawk would have the a white supercilium (white eyebrow line above the eye), white cheek, and a dark eye line coming out behind the eye with a dark malar stripe. That hawk has the typical brown "helmet" of a RTHA with the white breast and loosely streaked belly band. Also, grey hawks have relatively long tails compared to the body like accipiters do (cooper's, sharp-shinned, and northern goshawks). They also have a white "U" or white tip at the end of their long tail (both juveniles and adults). Look at the face markings on a first-year grey hawk that I described above from the photo of one my books below. I think that shows it is not a grey hawk.

 

@Steelhead Taco here is a good photo of a juvie showing the facial marks. Now you got me geeking out. Never seen a grey hawk and unless I travel south, I may never see one.

 

Thank you Sir!!
for the lesson and the time, much appreciated!!
The hunt continues…
If you’re still down doing studies in Sandy Eggo, you’re not too far away… weekend trip!
They are around and the next range over has Black Hawks, if your up hit me up for gps waypoints.
(bulk of the Black Hawks have passed but still some around)
Thx again your the best

 

No problem. I enjoy the ID game. I'm up in the bay area so it is a big trip. Only birding I do now a days is for work, but not complaining about that.

 

I think it's a Chimango caracara -Tiera del Fuego subspecies



Puerto Natales Chile

 

What kind of bird do you guys think this is? What I think it is doesn’t live or migrate through my area according to most guides.

 

Look up Curve-billed and Bendire's thrashers (very similar). I'm leaning towards curve-billed base off the dark base of the lower mandible I think I'm seeing in your photo on my phone (it is lighter in Bendire's), as well as the size/length/shape of bill + shape of head -> compared to Bendire's. I'd need more photos to bet the bank, but I'd bet $100 it is curve-billed from what I can see.

Screenshot below showing Bendire's on top and curve-billed below. You can see the dark vs light base of the bill I'm referring to. Plus, the down curved vs more straightish bill. You can also look at the beak:head ratio within the same bird. In the top photo of the Bendire's it looks like a 0.75:1 (beak is not as long as its head), while in the lower one of the curved-bill it looks more like a 1:1 to me (which I think I'm seeing in your photo).

 

@Taco-Obsessed the curve-billed is what I think it is as well. Range maps based on sightings show it does make it to this area on occasion.

 

I guess I looked at the range maps on my phone way too quick. After you posted your ebird map, I found this....

https://cobrc.org/Reports/SpeciesDetail.aspx?id=356

Guess there are only 8 accepted records in your state for Bendire's. Damn I should have bet the bank.

 

Ok been hearing the elusive Gray Hawk in the mornings but definitely shying from my camera….(the cottonwood canopy is getting thicker each day seems like)
But I think I got this one … hehe
White-Tailed Kite

 

Painted lines on outside patio door yesterday, I read that should help keep the birds from flying into them

 

Just a random goose on the roof...

 

A couple grebes showed up today.

 

A6000....justifying a new 200-600.

Boise, ID

 

I’ve been trying to justify one as well.

 

I'm going with black-tailed trogon on this one ???



Ucayali River south of Nauta Peru

 

Zone-tailed Hawk

 

Visible birdsong (not my pic, from reddit)

 

Playing with a common tern at sunrise.



Praslin, Seychelles. Facing southeast toward Round Island and La Dique is behind it.