Unusual Hawk

Discussion in 'Bird' started by Tooty2shoes, Feb 23, 2022.

  1. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Last week Friday I was on my home from Manitowoc, Was driving on City rd. R heading back home to Denmark, Wis.
    When I spotted this neat colored Hawk flying off to the left of my car. I thought, boy I have never seen a hawk with this type of coloring around here. I did find out what kind of a Hawk it was. But am wondering if any of you have ever seen this rare colored Hawk. Any guess what type of Hawk it is maybe?
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  3. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    Depends on size,, sharp shinned hawk ? Not sure what you have in WI ! I am used to southern hawks !
     
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  4. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    My best guess is that is a Rough-legged hawk. But this is a guess, based on your excellent photo and pictures in National Geographic Guide to North American Birds.
    May I suggest you send your photo to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, telling them where you saw it. They are very knowledgeable and can be of help. allaboutbirds.org
     
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  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Circus maurus?

    This defies all logic, but perhaps one could have escaped from a zoo. At any rate, like Jane said—submit that piccy to Cornell for an answer. I am so very curious to know the answer. I think the folks there will be excited to see your foto.
    Why, you could become famous.
     
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  6. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    That's a lovely bird, whatever it is, but I'd love to know what it is. @Tooty2shoes, I always get confused when I see where you live. Denmark is just a few hours' drive (well, a couple of days' drive) from here, and I get all excited, but then I notice the Wis at the end. Sorry.
     
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  7. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Well two of you were right on in Iding the Hawk. It is a Rough-legged Hawk in what they call Dark Morph coloring.
    Both light and dark morph Rough-legged Hawks occur in North America, but dark morphs are found nowhere else. Dark morphs are more common in the East where they make up 25% to 40% of the population, whereas in the West they make up only 10% of the population.
    I was so blessed to be able to see this wonderful Hawk. I will report it's sighting on E-Bird which is run by Cornell
     
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  8. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Tooty, I'm so glad you were able to get that beautiful hawk identified! Keep your eyes peeled, you definitely have a talent for seeing great birds!
     
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  9. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    That is so good to hear that you have identified that bird.
    Great sighting.
     
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  10. MIKE ALLEN

    MIKE ALLEN Seedling

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    Hawks. The raptors. It really gets me when some say. Ugh! awful creatures. Why? Because they kill other birds and animals. My reply always is. Look in the mirror. There you will see a member of the 'Awful' creature family. These majestic birds, kill to eat, to survive and to naturally control the wildlife. The person in the mirror is a member of creation that kills for the sake of killing.

    I have a friend, who to me is a great artist. He and I both have great admiration for the birds of prey. He paints each bird to size. In 1984 I was medically retired from work. Having been employed by the crown. I got a pension from day one. Also, what some called. 'The golden hand-shake' I also received £2000.00 I have no idea the equivalent in todays money. I asked Robert, to paint for me a Peregrine Falcon. I paid him the sum of £120.00 I mounted and framed the portrait. It hangs with pride of place in my sitting room.
     
  11. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Well said, Mike Allen! I too am a big fan of hawks, and enjoy seeing them in flight and perched on treetops in the pasture. I've seen them take field mice and voles, but never a bird. I know they do, but I haven't witnessed it.
     
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  12. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    So true Mike A. I love hawks and know that they only kill to eat. But it is really hard to see a Sharp-shined Hawk snatch a Downy woodpecker from our feeder. They don't kill them outright but sit and defeathers them while they are still alive. The poor little woodpecker makes the most horrible cries as it is being defeathered. Thats the only hawk that I know of the doesn't kill it's prey outright. But they are beautiful birds. This pic is from a website on Sharp-shinned Hawks. [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2022

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