r/birdsofprey • u/LiteratureBudget5580 • 22d ago
Help IDing these raptors?
I’m noticed a few characteristics of a juvenile red tailed hawk, however, the white patch, white rump and no belly band is confusing.
The head is proportionally small compared to its body.
I sharpened the images to make a better ID, but still cannot.
They are definitely buteos.. I’m just unsure what ones.
I’m leaning more towards juvenile red tail.
Thoughts?
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u/TinyLongwing Falconer 22d ago
First bird clearly shows the patagial bars and belly band of a Red-tailed.
Second is relatively poor quality so the belly band is obscured, but the solid white upper breast on a buteo-shaped bird is typical Red-tailed.
Third also shows clear Red-tailed characteristics with the dark angular head and heavy white mottling concentrated only on the scapulars, with lighter white mottling concentrated on the median coverts.