Hawk identification

[ChickMagic]

Is this a juvenile Red Tail Hawk or a Ferruginous Hawk? He's picking off my pet pigeons at work - he's pretty darn big!

[MuseRider]

1. Looks a lot like

a Ferruginous Hawk to me. I have only seen one so don't take my word for it. It looks too different from the Red Tails that I see around here, too broad. We do not get many Ferruginous around here so I very well remember the one I saw and this is what it looked like.

Edit spelling

[ChickMagic]

3. That's what I was thinking

Plus, he's able to grab some pretty hefty, well fed pigeons. If he's a juvenile red tail, he's awfully big for one.

[matcom]

2. they are usually fat and bald and most have anal cysts

so i hear.

oh, you meant the BIRD!

[ChickMagic]

5. LOL

I shoot the bird at Analis cysticus hawks!

[Webster Green]

4. Could be a perrigrine falcon....

I know they like to pick off pigeons in flight.

[ChickMagic]

8. This is definitely a hawk

The face is too tall and broad to be a falcon.

[GalleryGod]

6. Probably a St. Joe's Hawk !?!

Thanks, Boys!

[alfredo]

7. From what little I see it could be a red tail still showing winter plumage

You will love this.

bird Cam

[ChickMagic]

9. Awwww!

Thank you for the bird cam! A new mom!

[alfredo]

10. I love Peregrin falcons

They are the fastest bird in the world.

[notadmblnd]

11. looks like a Perigrene Falcon to me

they've adapted nicely to highrises and urban areas. Hawks still prefer country life, I see mostly Turky Hawks around here in Mich.

[ChickMagic]

12. How tall are Peregrins?

He landed briefly on the ground in front of me and was nearly to my knees. I haven't been able to see his back because he's always facing me staring me down.

[notadmblnd]

13. Length: 13 inches, male; 19 inches, female

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:



Wingspan: about 40 inches
Falcon wings are long and pointed with a swept-back look, a configuration allowing great speed. When folded, the long tips cross over the tail. The beak is sharply hooked and there is a conspicuous notch on the cutting edge. The orbit region is bare making the eye quite striking. The legs are partially feathered below the ankle.

Coloration: The head is black with heavy moustache stripes; back and upper wing surface slate gray (dark brown barring may be present); tail barred on grey, not white dorsally, white between the bars ventrally, tail tip has light band, often yellowish; throat and entire breast white to orange; dark flecks from base of throat to chest; belly and flanks barred, more heavily in females; beak slate blue with a yellow cere; feet are bright yellow.

Juveniles are darker all over, and the breast is striped rather than barred.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Maybe a Krider's Red-Tailed Hawk

Here's a pic of a Krider's:

They're thought by some to be a different race, rather than a subspecies of Red-Tailed Hawk. Can you get a good look at his beak?

Here's a Ferruginous:

[ChickMagic]

15. What beautiful pictures!

It's looking like a Ferruginous Hawk to me, although as a poster mentioned, it could be a Red Tail with winter plumage. Another observer tells me it's a female. From my own observation it is not an experienced hunter at all, so I'm looking at a large juvenile. If we can get a better picture, I'll post it. Since he was munching on pigeon babies this morning I probably won't see him for a few days.

[blindpig]

16. judging from behavior

I'd guess a peregrine falcon. Also from your pic(using a magnfiying glass) the bird looks to have sideburns, a definitive field mark.
Red Tails & Ferruginous don't usually feed on birds. Both peregines and Cooper hawks like to hang in cities for the pigeons.

[ChickMagic]

17. Good point

When he landed in front of me I was so astonished that I didn't notice a lot of details. I didn't realize that Peregrines were that big. Next time I see it up close, I'll look for the sideburns. A lady up here overheard someone on the train saying there was a falcon out here, so you're most likely right about this.

[ChickMagic]

18. I'm certain now

I remember what the raptor's legs look like - these are them.

[ChickMagic]

19. Sideburns

Here's a little better picture. I definitely see the sideburns here.

[CO Liberal]

20. I Can Tell You That THIS....

...is a Studebaker Hawk.

:-)

[TEXASYANKEE]

21. It's a juvy Red-Tail

I hate to burst y'alls bubbles, but it's a juvenile Red Tail. A beautiful Red Tail, but a Red Tail nonetheless. For starters, a Peregrine's face is much darker and the body would be slimmer. Not to mention the million people that would be swarming the streets from all over the planet wanting to get a look at it. (Ferrugonous Hawks don't come to this area of Texas, that I'm aware of.) This bird also displays the signature red splotchy vest of a Red Tail. RTs will take just about anything they can get, from squirrels to pigeons to road kill. I imagine his one is finding the pet Rock Pigeons to be especially delicious. Hopefully this beauty will decide to nest downtown and continue to rid the streets of the resident pigeons.

Thanks for sharing the photo, GinBarn.

[ChickMagic]

22. That would make more sense in Dallas

I was getting all excited! Given his poor hunting skills I figured that whatever he was he was a juvenile. I hope he leaves my little Specklehead alone. Specklehead follows me around like a puppy dog! He's definitely found a gold mine.

[jpak]

23. I agree

Not to hijack - I saw a Swallow-tailed Kite today...

:)

[TEXASYANKEE]

24. WooHoo!

That's great! ST Kites are gorgeous. I watched one hunting locusts in a tree last summer. It was so graceful. Do you live along the Texas coast?

[jpak]

25. Nope - Pensacola

They're migrating through right now - magnificent beautiful birds...

:)