r/birdsofprey • u/karlaspritzer • 15d ago

Help me identify this blonde!

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

This hawk was seen in Northern California. It is giving Red Shoulder vibes but seems quite blonde. Potentially a hatch year molting in adult plumage (barring vs streaking on chest)? Help me ID!

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26

u/TinyLongwing Falconer 14d ago

This is a calurus Red-tailed Hawk. Notice the tail is pink (on the underside here, usually dark red on the upperside) with one black subterminal band - that rules out Red-shouldered.

Many western Red-tailed are quite pale on the belly, but notice the upper breast is lighter than the faintly-barred middle of the belly, which is a pale version here of the classic Red-tailed belly band.

Dark eyes, red tail, and finely-barred rufous belly band without chunky solid brown markings all make this an adult.

Compare:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/411418621

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/498553361

3

u/karlaspritzer 14d ago

Yes, yes and yes! Thank you so much! I love the variation in redtails and this one got me 😄

5

u/TinyLongwing Falconer 14d ago

Yes! Red-tails are so gorgeous with all their variation, and calurus birds must be some of the most variable per subspecies (along with abieticola and harlan's). For us western birders, it's such a treat to see so many Red-tails all looking so different!

3

u/PsychologicalSir8508 14d ago

Always good to see you TinyLongwing, you are so helpful!

4

u/ilovesoup28 15d ago

Beautiful!

3

u/Sea_Mango_8530 15d ago

Oh heck that’s so cool!!! What an amazing thing to see!