ID Help

We are reasonably sure that this is just a very dark Red-tailed Hawk. Taken in southern Arizona near Patagonia last week. What do you think?

Here's one more view.

Charlie

It looks like a dark Red-tailed Hawk to me. I photographed one in FL like this and a birder friend of mine ID'd it for me because I wanted to be sure of what it was.

Looks like a dark Red-tailed to me, too. I tried to turn it into a Harris's for you, but no luck.

The proportions of the bird and especially the shape of the wings (bulging, "muscular," curved, and blunt at the tips) in the first shot are perfect for a redtail. The shape alone is enough to separate it from a ferruginous or rough-legged, which are the only other buteos that might be expected down there this time of year. If I'm not mistaken, a dark Harlan's should still show some white streaking on the upper breast. Harris's would show extensive white on the tail and rufous on the wing coverts.

I agree it is a Red-tailed Hawk. I still marvel at the variety of plumages here in AZ compared to the birds in the eastern US.

Thanks everyone! I thought so too. With just a small amount of PS work I think I could turn it into something much better though.

Red-tails, depending who you listen to, have as many as 12 subspecies, and many of the subspecies are polymorphic. At one point, they were regarded as three different species - Red-tailed, Harlan's and Krider's - and recent literature suggests Harlan's may be broken out as a separate species again. During spring migration in Alaska we see them ranging from near-white "Krider's" to dark chocolate "Harlan's." Amazing variability.

This does look like the Western race of Red-tail. A dark juvenile by the looks of it Charlie. Quite a rare treat to see one !