CLOSED: Unknown big bird!

Sorry for the poor pics but they were heavily cropped. I think all 3 are the same bird...but now sure.

#2

#3...thank you for your help.

Red-tailed Hawk, check out the 'dark adult' illustrated in Sibley's Bird Guide.

Resin

Thanks Resin...I checked my Sibley's and can see now!! The hawks still confuse me (among other birds)!

Yeah, Red-tailed Hawks are notoriously variable! Our Common Buzzard over here (a close relative; Buteo buteo) is equally variable, from nearly pure white to as dark as yours.

Resin

I've seen pics of your Buzzards and they sure look like Hawks. They are beautiful compared to our Buzzards.

edited cause I can't spell.

This message was edited Dec 3, 2008 2:16 PM

Technical point . . . half your "hawks" actually are buzzards (i.e., genus Buteo), and not hawks at all. So no wonder they look similar! The only 'real' hawks on your side of the Atlantic are Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Gos (they're all in the hawk genus Accipiter). One more consequence of the lack of good education for early settlers!

Resin