Today we saw the same (we think) bird but it looked more like an immature bald eagle. It was in our yard eating a mouse when we first noticed it. It flew up to a branch and sat for awhile. Quentin was able to get a quick picture through the screen before it flew away.
I've been reading that an immature Bald Eagle is sometimes mistaken for a hawk or Golden Eagle because of the color of their eyes and beak. Their eyes and beak are brown until they are 4 to 5 years old. This eagle still has a lot of brown feathers on his head but the front of the face was very white. When he took off we were able to see the very white feathers on his legs. I think tomorrow we are going to hike around and see if we can spot a nest.
The photo is a little fuzzy but our excitement isn't!
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
7 comments:
How exciting! I'm glad you got a picture!
linda jo
I think it is a hawk!
We thought so too at first – actually second. Last week we thought it was an owl! Two days ago I thought it was a hawk but when I saw him eating a mouse and his head and neck were not squished down he looked way more like an eagle.
We have binoculars and camera ready if he comes by again. We want to solve this mystery. :-)
This is definitely not an eagle or an owl. The picture is a little fuzzy to know for sure, but it looks to me like it may be an immature Goshawk. If I had a better view of the head I'd be able to tell you. I'll show a few other falconers to see what they think and then let you know.
Just because we call a bird an "immature" doesn't mean it is small. When raptors fledge (take their first flight out of the nest) they are at their adult size. They actually look slightly bigger than an adult because their immature feathers are bigger to compensate for undeveloped muscles and lack of coordination. The way to tell an immature (passage) raptor from an adult (haggard) is by the coloration of their plumage (feathers), cere (waxy area above the beak), and tarsus (legs).
I will get back to you with a concensus on what your new friend is :) If you get any more pictures please post or email them for better assessment.
i have your answer :)
it's a kriders red tail hawk. go do a google image search and you'll see.
eagles have much larger and MUCH more defined beaks, feet and bodies. this bird's body design, plumage and head/beak shape are not that of any eagle but of a hawk. the reason this bird looks poofy here is just because it has its feathers poofed out. they can look twice their actual size and appear to have a "squished down neck" from just moving their feathers. they can also lay all their feathers down flat - many reasons to do any of the above :)
hope you do see him/her again. the kriders is a gorgeous bird and one of my favorite in the red tail family! :D :D
~Sondra~
Sondra,
THANKS. I did a google search in images and it looks just like what we saw. The front of the head of the one we saw seemed to look more "eagle" like but everything else looks like the photos on the internet
I'm so glad our mystery is solved!!
We have been watching for it to return but haven't seen anything yet. They don't migrate, do they?
We have our camera ready just in case.
Blessings!
red tails are a very wide spread raptor. they span from canada all the way to central america. they are not all migratory birds for the most part, however the ones located in the colder northern regions will migrate south to where their food goes in the winter. they are more densely populated in the southern regions. if your bird did migrate south for the winter (but is from that area) then come march/april keep an eye out. it is very possible that its parents are from somewhere close by, and it (or they) might have a nest in your area :) it also might not have gone anywhere. your yard could be part of its territory and it just might find another meal close by at some point ;)
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