Documentation of
Red-shouldered Hawk
2010-007
Observer Information
Reporter:
Eric Defonso
Other Observers:
Nick Komar on the 7th; Rachel Hopper, Glenn Walbek, Loch Kilpatrick on the 8th; and Don Leske and Jesse Meschievitz on the 10th.; Originally reported by Dave Elens, I believe I was the 2nd finder and identifier of this bird. Numerous other people have since observed this bird - see COBirds archives for details.
Species, Date, Time and Location Information
Species:
Red-shouldered Hawk
First Date/Time:
1/6/2010
Last Date/Time:
1/6/2010
Duration (total time in view):
30 minutes
County:
Weld
Specific Location:
Kodak Watchable State Wildlife Area and Poudre River Trail (western section)
Number:
1
Age:
Immature
Sex:
Unknown
Plumage:
Other/Unknown
Habitat
riparian river corridor with many medium to tall trees and grass, with patches of thick brushy ground cover adjacent to and away from the water.
Viewing Conditions
Optics:
Zeiss 7x42 T-FL binoculars and Kowa TSN-823 spotting scope with 20-60x zoom eyepiece. Photographed with Canon Digital Rebel XT with 300mm zoom telephoto lens.
Distance:
40 ft at closest, measured using Google Earth
Light:
On Jan 6th, conditions were cloudy and deteriorating as a front approached, with light snow falling and increasing wind. The morning of the 7th was clear and bright and extremely cold.
Description of the Bird
The bird was perched on leafless trees very adjacent to the Poudre River waterway. Wind was picking up and quite cold, so the bird didn't linger long on any particular branch. The plumage was dull brown and spotted on the upperparts, and white streaked with brown strokes on the breast. The bird had narrow banding in the tail and a relatively smallish looking physique for a hawk.
There were no vocalizations.
Similar Species Discussion
A few buteonine hawks, but especially Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk. As it was clearly a juvenile bird, that is what I considered for comparison.
Red-tailed Hawk: juveniles
Resources Used
Sibley Guide to Birds of North America. Later at home, Wheeler's Photographic Guide to Raptors of Western North America, Birds of North America Online (subscription)
Previous Experience
Numerous adult RSHA seen and heard in California during the years I lived there. Also seen and heard in Florida during several visits. Photographed many times. I've also seen, heard, and photographed RTHA, BWHA, and SWHA. I've spent considerable time in close range to RTHA and SWHA, with birds of a variety of ages during my time as volunteer with the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.
Notes
Memory
Additional Information
Materials Available
No files uploaded.
Date Documentation Submitted
8/24/2014 12:39:00 PM
Location Map
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