Another sweet-looking education bird at the Sitka Raptor Center. I had to double check my notes when I saw I’d indicated this was a red-tailed hawk – easy to see why this variation was once thought to be a separate species.
Got birds?
red-tailed hawk, dark morph
Previous post: bald eagle at sitka raptor center
Next post: deer superhighway (myworld)
{ 10 comments }
Seeing captive education birds really helps with field ID. What a beautiful bird. Looks kind of scholarly to me with the raised foot and cocked head, like he’s about to give a lecture.
Lovely shot of the Harlan’s (Dark-morphed Red-tail). That look is quite menacing.
Love love love the sweet expression on that face!
Such a cutie! I’m with everyone else having difficulty id’ing raptors, but is sure is fun (as well as frustrating) trying! ~karen
a sweet looking bird. It really looks gentle.
Yes, there are a lot of knowldge for free on the net. Ond would be a fool if you did not use it.
Nice photos and bird – and you are very lucky to have a place like that where you can see the raptors up close.
Nice shot of a beautiful bird.
Very nice! I always like the different morphs. there’s a dark morph here that’s always (really, always!) in the exact same perch every time we drive by. Raptor Iding makes me crazy though. The raptor center seems like a great place!
Nice shot of the Harlan’s with all the white mottling and lores. It sure would be nice to see that tail
You’re right about the difficulty IDing raptors, especially in the wild when there are juveniles around. Thanks for sharing this uncommon variation.
Beautiful shot, the Dark Morph red tailed hawk is a handsome looking bird.
Comments on this entry are closed.