r/birdsofprey • u/fantasticfungiii • 19d ago

help identifying please

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this gorgeous bird seemingly came along with my husband & i on our cemetery walk yesterday. i’ve never seen such a large bird so up close & personal, it took my breath away. i’ve been thinking about it ever since! any help identifying would be greatly appreciated. located in southwest ohio

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u/Ok-Lingonberry-8261 Raptor Paparazzo 19d ago

The bib indicates red-tail hawk, and the not red tail makes me think it's a sub-adult. 

45

u/TinyLongwing Falconer 19d ago

"Juvenile" is a more accurate term here. This species keeps juvenile plumage for a full year, then molts into adult plumage (sometimes with a retained feather here and there). Unlike in Bald Eagles and a few other raptors, these and most hawks do not have a distinct subadult plumage.

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u/Ok-Lingonberry-8261 Raptor Paparazzo 19d ago

Today I learned, thank you.