About 4 weeks ago while on stand for coyotes I saw a large bird that I could not identify. I only saw him briefly so I could not study him alot. Today, again, while on coyote stand, I saw what apeared to be the same large bird. The entire underside was white , except for the wing tips, which were dark brown. The top side of this bird was dark brown. It had a wing spam of 4+ feet ! It would soar close to the ground then go higher, then low to the ground again as if looking for prey. It was not soaring or gliding like a hawk or eagle. Maybe an owl? The only thing I was thinking was Osprey. But in SE Wisconsin ? Any comments?
Raptor identification in Wisconsin
- Thread starter 22MagMan
- Start date
This bird had a short tail, white on bottom, brown on top. It had pointed wing tips. Did very little gliding, sometimes close to the ground for short distances. Covered a lot of territory in a short time. At first I thought it was a segal because all I could see was its white underside. It kinda flew like a segal too. I will continue to watch for this bird in hopes to get a proper ID for him. Thanks for your input.
22Magman,
Could have been any if the "buteos" which encompasses hawks and eagles. All dark brown on top and light on the bottom, but only four foot wingspan?I'd go with maybe a dark phases redtailed hawk (Is that Harlan's or Krider's race, NASA? Isn't your half the raptor person?) If it were larger, I'd go with juvey bald eagle. And in that case, it might be an immature male. Hard telling, though. Ospreys are pretty distinct. Their wings are light beneath with big dark spots at the wrists, and the wings cup while soaring when looked at from the front. Also, they stay almost exclusively to water. Baldies are typically migrating near the water now, but I've found them a few miles off water goofing off.
Lotsa raptors moving right now. Last week, I was "swooped" by a short-eared owl coming to my squeals. I flared him off at about three feet and he just flared back and kind hovered over me for a few seconds. Sunday, I found an adult great horned (not migrating
) that had apparantly been in a collison. His wings were intact with equal movement, but his right pupil was severely misshapen and deviated to the inside and wouldn't respond to light. My guess is a closed head injury from a collision with nerve damage to the cranial nerves. Sadly, all I could do was shoo him out of the road and wish him luck. Nobody in these parts rehabs GHO's anymore. I did see a pair of adult baldies Thanksgiving morning while out with my son. That was a treat. And this place is stinkin' with Harriers anymore.
Could have been any if the "buteos" which encompasses hawks and eagles. All dark brown on top and light on the bottom, but only four foot wingspan?I'd go with maybe a dark phases redtailed hawk (Is that Harlan's or Krider's race, NASA? Isn't your half the raptor person?) If it were larger, I'd go with juvey bald eagle. And in that case, it might be an immature male. Hard telling, though. Ospreys are pretty distinct. Their wings are light beneath with big dark spots at the wrists, and the wings cup while soaring when looked at from the front. Also, they stay almost exclusively to water. Baldies are typically migrating near the water now, but I've found them a few miles off water goofing off.
Lotsa raptors moving right now. Last week, I was "swooped" by a short-eared owl coming to my squeals. I flared him off at about three feet and he just flared back and kind hovered over me for a few seconds. Sunday, I found an adult great horned (not migrating
) that had apparantly been in a collison. His wings were intact with equal movement, but his right pupil was severely misshapen and deviated to the inside and wouldn't respond to light. My guess is a closed head injury from a collision with nerve damage to the cranial nerves. Sadly, all I could do was shoo him out of the road and wish him luck. Nobody in these parts rehabs GHO's anymore. I did see a pair of adult baldies Thanksgiving morning while out with my son. That was a treat. And this place is stinkin' with Harriers anymore.
If it had a 4ft wing span, it could only be few things. A redtail hawk, bald eagle (possibly and immature bird) or an opsrey. Assuming of course that it was not a black or turkey vulture. The osprey should be easy to identify. My guess is a redtail.
http://www.buteo.com/redtail.html
http://www.buteo.com/redtail.html
Grandpa Fudge
New member
does anybody know how long redtails live??? i saw one flying with jesses on 25 or so yrs a go and saw one with them in the same area a few weeks ago!! it can't be the same bird could it???
i saw one flying with jesses on 25 or so yrs a go and saw one with them in the same area a few weeks ago!!
Huh??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif What or who is jesses?
I'm not sure what you mean, but I would think it is impossible to say if it was the same one just because it was in the same area.
The answer to your question though is 20 years.
http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/facts_hawks.html
Huh??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif What or who is jesses?
I'm not sure what you mean, but I would think it is impossible to say if it was the same one just because it was in the same area.
The answer to your question though is 20 years.
http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/facts_hawks.html
Yellowhammer: Jesses are leather straps used by falconers on a raptors legs to secure it.
Granpa Fudge: Probably not the same bird since the jesses would be gone. Most likely one that a falconer had escape, and the jesses should come off later on their own.
On I.D. I'm thinking a Buteo- a Red-tailed of the western races maybe. Could even be Rough- legged hawk?
ZP
Granpa Fudge: Probably not the same bird since the jesses would be gone. Most likely one that a falconer had escape, and the jesses should come off later on their own.
On I.D. I'm thinking a Buteo- a Red-tailed of the western races maybe. Could even be Rough- legged hawk?
ZP
ZP- Thanks. I learn something new every day. I had never heard the name for those leg straps. Your right though, I wouldn't think the straps would last even if it was the same bird.
Hi Guys, this is Danny's better half, Charlene. As in other forums, I have put my two cents in where raptors are concerned.
22MagMan, by your description I would hazard a guess that what you saw was a male Northern harrier or marsh hawk.. These birds are in a genus all their own, Circus ,which comes from the greek word to circle. Worldwide there are 10 representatives with the Northern harrier being North America's only member. Known for their trademark swooping down, low flight patterns, Harriers have a wingspan of up to 43 inches. Males are very light underneath with a band of black/dark brown on their wing tips. If you happened to be in a marsh-like area or open prairie, that would pretty much nail this identification since this is their preferred hunting grounds. If you could get a closer look, through binoculars, you would see a disc shaped face similar to an owls.
Hope this helps.
22MagMan, by your description I would hazard a guess that what you saw was a male Northern harrier or marsh hawk.. These birds are in a genus all their own, Circus ,which comes from the greek word to circle. Worldwide there are 10 representatives with the Northern harrier being North America's only member. Known for their trademark swooping down, low flight patterns, Harriers have a wingspan of up to 43 inches. Males are very light underneath with a band of black/dark brown on their wing tips. If you happened to be in a marsh-like area or open prairie, that would pretty much nail this identification since this is their preferred hunting grounds. If you could get a closer look, through binoculars, you would see a disc shaped face similar to an owls.
Hope this helps.
centerfire_223
New member
Wow Ms. B knows her birds!!!
Ronnie
Ronnie
NASA
New member
Charlene, I was waiting for one of the few other falconers to chime in and make that ID. I asked those leading questions early in the post because I too believe it was a marsh or harrier (most likely harrier). Good call, lady. You're OK.
p.s.- You should ask Danny to bring you to Globe for the PM Hunt. He'll have a lot of friends there.
p.s.- You should ask Danny to bring you to Globe for the PM Hunt. He'll have a lot of friends there.
Thank you for your input....we do have marsh hawks in our area but are smaller than this bird is/was. The bottom side was pure white..not tan or dirty white.(with the exception of the dark brown wing tips on the underside) I saw it twice flying over an open field that had just been plowed under. (It contained corn). There are many marsh lands in the immediate area also. It has been a few weeks since I spotted it. It may return..if the weather is favorable. I will be watching.....Thanks again Charlene.
Thank you all for your kind words, I have worked with all species of raptors native to the US over the years. When you have a bird on the wing and no means to get a closer look, it makes identification a rather formidable task.
I would rule out Ospreys because of their dark under wings, their body is the only solidly white part. As for immature eagles, most are mottled in coloration and not pure white as 22Magman described.The only raptor that is pure white underneath is a Kite and they are quite small and usually found in the Florida Gulf area.
That leaves us with only one alternative that hasn't been mentioned. This happens occasionally in raptors as well as many other animal species,it is albinism.
There have been many cases documented by birders with the Red Tailed hawk being cited most often. Peterson's Field Guide to Hawks has some pictures for reference. So, it is quite possible that what 22 Magman saw was a light-morph, partial albino or true albino Red Tail. Be aware though, the albinism extends to the tail, so you would not see their trademarked red bands.
One last coal to throw in the fire, Snowy Owls are day fliers. Their cyclic( accidental)range extends into Wisconsin and their wingspan measures approximately 52 inches(4'4").
The mystery needs a bit more information but you should be able to solve it. Hope this helps.
I would rule out Ospreys because of their dark under wings, their body is the only solidly white part. As for immature eagles, most are mottled in coloration and not pure white as 22Magman described.The only raptor that is pure white underneath is a Kite and they are quite small and usually found in the Florida Gulf area.
That leaves us with only one alternative that hasn't been mentioned. This happens occasionally in raptors as well as many other animal species,it is albinism.
There have been many cases documented by birders with the Red Tailed hawk being cited most often. Peterson's Field Guide to Hawks has some pictures for reference. So, it is quite possible that what 22 Magman saw was a light-morph, partial albino or true albino Red Tail. Be aware though, the albinism extends to the tail, so you would not see their trademarked red bands.
One last coal to throw in the fire, Snowy Owls are day fliers. Their cyclic( accidental)range extends into Wisconsin and their wingspan measures approximately 52 inches(4'4").
The mystery needs a bit more information but you should be able to solve it. Hope this helps.