First timer

[BFiredup]

Hi everyone, I am a first timer in the Wildlife forum..I am usually doing sports shots. But I came home from a game today, to find this huge bird on the clothes line in my back yard.

I didn't have the right setup on my camera...but did the best I could in a flash...

I was wondering, is this a Hawk of some sort....I have never seen this type of bird around the house before...

Thanks...

[Dylan8i]

OMG you have a super rare double breasted bed thrasher!



jk, im not sure what it is, but looks like what id call a hawk.

im sure a real birder will be on shortly and have no problem iding it.

[BFiredup]

You had me for a sec. there....LOL...

Unless it is a finch or something everyday, eating out of my feeder outside, I am lost on the bird thing.....

[TommyTwo-Tone]

Its beak looks like a falcon's of some sort. That said, I have no idea.
Hi though.

After googling for five seconds I ruled out falcons.
One more minute put me at Red-Tailed Hawk. Funny I didn't recognize it though, since they are common around here. Might be wrong too though.

It doesn't look like some of the red-tails though... It reminds me of this one though.
http://www.rocklandaudubon.org/image...0Hawk%2001.jpg
and this one
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/si...0516-hawk2.jpg
You may need a pro to verify though . Yours looks grayer and these look a bit browner. Could that be your camera, or no? (I'm rather new as well)

[BFiredup]

I think it looks like the second pic you have there....
Well...I was quite a distance from him...or her....didn't have my zoom lens on my camera, since I just got finished shooting a basketball game. I was using the 85mm f/1.8 USM, so I had to do a lot of cropping and zooming in PE to get a good view....LOL

Thanks for the help though...

[BFiredup]

This one wasn't very good....certainly doesn' t show off my photography ability....:blush2:
But thought it might help in the identification part of things...

The pics here are all awsome....and just so beautiful....

[TommyTwo-Tone]

Those are pretty sweet.
As for your response... Totally over my head. Told you I was new though. I just got my first digital camera, and its just a point and shoot.
I really like that first picture with him in flight. Red-tailed hawks do have a red-tail, but I don't remember how you really see it, because it's not always visible. Did you notice anything while it was flying?

[Loupey]

Hey, BFiredup, welcome to our forum - we welcome all, even sports people

To me (and I'm not the birder on this forum), I'd say it's a juvenile red-tailed hawk. The white breast and shoulders tell me it it's a RT hawk, the classic red tail comes a year or two later I think.

Come on, show us what else you got crawling around your neighborhood!

[BFiredup]

I will see what I can find Loupey...LOL....
I have a ton of finches eating at the feeders this morning, even though there is snow on the ground and the wind chill is in the teens this morning...not a good day to go outside...

Thank you for you help...I really appreciate it....

[Cassie1]

Hi BFiredup, welcome to the Nature and Wildlife forum, everyone is so friendly here.

I've learned a lot on this forum since I joined.

Cassie.

[retroactiv]

You had me for a sec. there....LOL...

Unless it is a finch or something everyday, eating out of my feeder outside, I am lost on the bird thing.....

Its a Red Tailed hawk we have them all over around my house, This is the bird that eats the finch's that eat out of your feeder.

[BFiredup]

Oh no....that isn't good.....

Not sure I want him to stick around then....I haven't seen him today

[karen m.]

Welcome to N&W, I hope to see more of your pictures.

[paulnj]

Nice find on the juvenile eastern strain of RED-SHOULDERED HAWK

Welcome to the best forum .......

[Loupey]

Hey I'm happy - I got the "red" and "hawk" part and even squeezed in a "juvenile" - just the wrong body part

I shoot 'em. But don't always know what I'm shootin' :thumbsup:

Thanks for the clarification Paul!

[paulnj]

It's not an easy ID due to the variation in redtailed hawks nation wide. I know from the bar like streaks on the belly and that dull colored head.