LOUISIANA
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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1 immature/subadult |
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3. Locality: Jefferson Davis Parish |
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Specific Locality: Turf Grass Road area, about 3 miles NE of Lacassine |
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4. Date(s) when observed: February 19, 2012/February 26,2012 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 3 pm/about 2 pm |
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6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): sunny, bird to my east with afternoon light behind me |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon Fieldscope 20-60, viewfinder of Nikon d50 with 300mm lens. |
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11. Distance to bird(s): At first, bird was probably about ¾ mile away. It circled closer, eventually getting to within ¼ or 1/8 of a mile or so. Distances based on the fact that roads in that area are 1 mile apart; at its closest, the bird was about ½ or ¼ of the way between me and what I believe is the center of the section. |
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12. Duration of observation: about 20 minutes of intermittent viewing. |
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13. Habitat: Open agricultural fields in the vicinity of a large garbage landfill. |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): When I first saw the bird, it was quite distant, and I switched from binoculars to scope to see it better. It was drifting toward me, so I grabbed the camera and waited, but lost the bird in the process. There were at least 10 Red-tailed Hawks, about 25 Turkey Vultures, and a number of gulls in the air, so it was easy to lose. Within a half minute or so, I relocated it, took a few pictures, lost it again. When I would lose it, I would switch from camera to binos. At this point I relocated it but it had soared higher and a bit S, so I watched it briefly through the scope until it came down lower. Then I switched, lost it again, and decided to drive S. A few minutes later, I saw 2 hawks fairly close (soaring about ¼-1/8 mile away), and one was the Ferruginous. I got my closest looks and photos at this time. Somehow, it then drifted E and disappeared, possibly landing. |
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15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species): A fairly
streamlined buteo, at times more reminiscent of
Marsh Hawk than buteos such as Red-tailed
Hawk. Overall very pale, with
conspicuous pale patches on wingtips, tail, and head (although pattern of
head never seen very well) superficially suggesting a bleached-out Caracara. Overall
morphology: Long wings that tapered to
a narrow tip, with a definite crook in the bend of the wing at times,
creating a swept-back look. Quite a
bit of head projection, and a tail that seemed fairly long, especially when
it was compressed. Soared with a
slight uptilt to wings, kited by hitching whole wings forward at
shoulders. Dorsal surface: Fairly neutral brownish-gray ground color on mantle and inner wing, with small scattered whitish patches, including a very ill-defined “wing-stripe” around the median coverts. This darker color ended abruptly at the beginning of the primaries and primary coverts. The entire outer-wing was distinctly paler, forming a vivid two-toned effect to the wing. The primaries were whitish, with dark tips on the outer primaries at least. The area of the primary coverts was also paler than the inner wing. In other words, the secondaries were dark, the primaries were pale, and the difference was striking. The tail was also
much paler than the mantle, a pale whitish or grayish-white with a poorly
defined dusky terminal band. The tail
seemed to have 2 longer rects on the right side, or perhaps damaged rects.
This feature was picked up in photos on both 2/19 and 2/26, showing that only
one bird was involved in these two sightings.
The head appeared
very whitish, but the exact features of pattern were not seen well. Underparts: Overall, very pale white, strikingly
so. A small thin patch of darker
markings were visible along the flanks, there were dark “commas” at the
distal ends of the underwing coverts, and a vague trace of outline to the
rest of the underwing coverts. There
was not a hint of a patagial mark as in
Red-tail. The tips of the primaries
were dusky, and the area of the primaries between the dusky primary tips and
the underwing coverts at the base of the primaries formed a translucent panel
as the bird soared with sunlight above it.
Bird had a visibly
full crop, and a big-chested look as a result. |
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16. Voice: n/a |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by
your observation): The morphology of this bird combined with
the typical underwing of Ferruginous eliminates paler Red-taileds,
which can otherwise look superficially Ferruginous-like. Although the photos
are poor, these features are visible.
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom?
attached?): yes, poor but sufficient |
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19. Previous experience with this species: Decent
experience in and out of state with Ferruginous. In state, I’ve seen a few birds that match this one’s look very
closely. |
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20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): |
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a. at time of observation:
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b. after observation: |
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21. This description is written from memory, photo review. |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: yes |
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23. Date: 2/21/2012 |
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