Katie and I were hurrying to Russellville late this afternoon, and were about 1
½ miles from home when Katie said “is that a Harrier?”, referring to a raptor
soaring low over a wheat field on her side of the road. I stopped, turned
around and we got fairly good looks at a consistently and overall
dark-chocolate brown Buteo, that had lightness in the underwing primaries…not
white or silver, but more “blond”, like a Turkey Vulture. It was a good
distance away by the time we dug out the binocular. The behavior in flight
seemed more Harrier than Red-tail, but it seems too dark overall to be a
Rough-legged, at least per my references.
I’ve no doubt that this is the same hawk that I saw from the house on November
19. I’m leaning Harlen’s, but I’m STILL really stumped. It seems to be
hanging around…I wish someone would come identify it and put me out of my
misery!
Stephen Tyson, Schochoh, Logan Co.
