Distinguishing raptors in flight can be difficult, largely because they are so variable in plumage. Knowing status and distribution and which characteristics to look for can help to make the correct ID. Habitat, shape, structure, plumage, flight style, and behavior are all important when identifying raptors.
Join Dessi Sieburth as he takes us through the challenges and fun of raptor identification, with a focus on the large hawks known as buteos.
Here is a video of the talk:
Here is a table from the talk:
Species | Morph | Age | Belly band | Trailing edge | Tail band(s) from below | Upperwing/rump patch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red-tailed Hawk | light | ad | present | present,bold | one faint band on red tail | absent |
juv | present | faint to absent | many faint bands | absent | ||
dark | ad | absent | present,bold | one faint band on red tail | absent | |
juv | absent | faint to absent | many faint bands | absent | ||
Ferruginous Hawk | light | ad | absent | faint | no bands on white tail | upperwing patch |
juv | absent | absent | no to faint bands on white tail | upperwing patch | ||
dark | ad | absent | faint | no bands on white tail | upperwing patch | |
juv | absent | absent | no to faint bands on white tail | upperwing patch | ||
Rough-legged Hawk | light | ad | present | present,bold | thick black band on white tail | rump patch |
juv | present | faint | thick faint band on white tail | both present | ||
dark | ad | absent | present,bold | thick black band on white tail | rump patch | |
juv | absent | faint | thick faint band on white tail | both present | ||
Swainson's Hawk | light | ad | absent | absent | dark band on end of barred tail | no to faint rump patch |
juv | absent | absent | no to faint band on barred tail | variable rump patch | ||
dark | ad | absent | absent | dark band on end of barred tail | no to faint rump patch | |
juv | absent | absent | no to faint band on barred tail | no to faint rump patch | ||
Zone-tailed Hawk | ad | absent | present, bold | 3-4 white bands on black tail | absent | |
juv | absent | faint to absent | many thin black-and-white bands | absent |