Need Raptor IDs

NorthernFocus

Had a couple of raptors come over the field while shooting waterfowl yesterday. They were soaring pretty high so the images aren't very good quality due to severe cropping. I think the first one is a Rough Legged Hawk maybe?

Ric Grupe

Yep...it's definitely a hawk!!!! barb

dnie

yep!! a hawk
I almost said the same thing!
I can't find one in my book that matches that close enough for me to be sure. I sure hope someone else knows...

CAPTURED2H

rough-legged hawk would be a guess Did you shoot this in Alaska

NorthernFocus

CAPTURED2H wrote:

rough-legged hawk would be a guess Did you shoot this in Alaska

Yes, shot it yesterday afternoon. The photos are two different birds. One was darker both on top and bottom.

I think Ric got it right the first time

bfjr

Ric Grupe wrote:

Yep...it's definitely a hawk!!!! barb

well it's "KNOTALOON"

dnie

bfjr wrote:

well it's "KNOTALOON"

oh my.... :puke1

NorthernFocus

Though entertaining, this hasn't been real informational so far Maybe I'll just call it a GNH (generic northern hawk)

dnie

articblooms wrote:

Though entertaining, this hasn't been real informational so far Maybe I'll just call it a GNH (generic northern hawk)

I should see my bird experts this weekend. I'll see if I can show it to them and see what they think.

Maestro

The first is definitely a rough legged hawk. The lighter head and the belly patterning along with the tail patterning all seem to point to a rough legged hawk. The second hawk though I am unsure about. It almost looks like a Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk, but it could be just a darker rough legged hawk and they do occur in darker morphs.

NorthernFocus

Thanks, Stephen. I suspect the second one is a darker rough leg. They were in the sky at the same time so they may have been a mating pair.