CLOSED: Red-tailed Hawks?

Pittsburgh, PA

I saw these two birds in Pittsburgh, PA. I think they are both Red-tailed Hawks, but I don't understand why their tails look different from below. The tail of the first one is pale below, but the second one is red below.

Thanks,
Cui

Thumbnail by cuihenggang Thumbnail by cuihenggang
(Zone 5a)

There are so many color variations within the species. There's the light morphs, rufous and dark morphs as well as the standard coloring. Also, I wonder if the sun is hitting the first photo directly which would wash out the color. The immature Red-tailed Hawks do not have the characteristic red tail.

We were completely thrown off recently with a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk. We thought we had ourselves a Gyrfalcon, but others more experienced set us straight, much to our disappointment.

Pittsburgh, PA

I think I will confirm them as Red-tailed Hawks.

Thanks,
Cui

New York, NY(Zone 7a)

I agree. The second picture has sunlight shining through the tail (and through the wings), so that more of the color of the upper surface can be seen from underneath. That makes the wings darker and the tail redder.

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