Mystery Hawk in Ecosystem Garden
This shot was taken from my Philadelphia, PA backyard today. Show off your hawk ID skills by telling us what it is in the comments below.
Mystery Hawk front side
OK, Ms. Diane Eve, just for you here’s a view from the front side, since you asked so nicely! Still sure?
© 2009, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
My guess is it’s a northern harrier. I don’t know much about hawks though. Is that a sweetgum tree it is roosting in?
Alison Kerr´s last post ..Chocolate and Candies to Make
Hm. Hard to tell from this perspective — we usually see ‘em face-on. Would it be a red tail?
Hmmmm….either a juvenile red tail or a rough legged hawk. And Diane, how is it you get the birds to always look face-on! Good trick!
LOL, DD! It just seems they’re always in the trees across from us, hunting and scanning; and they just happen to be facing us!
PS – After I submitted my guess, I immediately realized I should’ve included “juvenile” ’cause it does look like a baby to me.
juv. red tail…in a sycamore is my guess
Wood’s Rule of Raptor Identification: Call ‘em all Red-tails and you’ll be right 80% of the time. ;>
Sheri Williamson´s last post ..Sleepy girls
Ha, so true! Eighty percent is a pretty decent average, though.
Gee, when ya gonna tell us what it is? huh? huh? when? when?
………….the suspense builds!!!!!!! LOL
OK Diane Eve, here’s the front side, just for you!
That didn’t help me at all, but I’ll check my book in hopes I can figure it out.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..10 Christmas Surprises You Won’t Find On My List
I’m thinking it’s a juvenile rough legged hawk. The feathers seem to go down to the feet, it has yellow eyes (as juv RL hawks can), has a white chest with brown markings and has the same tail banding. Just a guess
Gee! Thanx for the new view, but it actually made it harder!
I wanna say peregrine falcon, but the face doesn’t appear to have the little mask … plus you said this is a hawk.
K, I give……. d’ya know or are you guessing too? LOL
K, I’m back to my first guess …. Red Tailed Hawk, probably juvenile.
Cripes! You’re just laughing your butt off at us, aren’t ya! LOL
Carole, it looks like a Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk to me.
{ 1 trackback }