The mystery raptor has been identified as well as it can be considering
limitations of the photograph.
I received excellent input from Brainard Palmer-Ball, Brian Wheeler and
Tami Maffitt who believe the bird has the characteristics of a Krider's or
Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk. The two are very similar and interbreed in
south-central Canada.
Thank you all who put the time and effort into this ID. It's fun working
together to get an identity and the one thing we can all agree on is it is
NOT a juvi Osprey! Some wondered if it might be a Rough-legged Hawk.
Tina Nauman
Lexington, KY
On Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 10:09 PM, Tina Nauman <tinanauman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I was in the Cecilia area today and saw this bird in flight and my first
thought was sub-adult Bald Eagle due to size and white on head. It briefly
had an interaction with a RTH and then landed where I was able to get a
quick photo through the car windshield before it flew. As I looked at the
photo I realized the small beak and overall head and tail coloring doesn't
seem consistent with a Bald Eagle.
The best I've been able to come up with is a juvi Osprey which shouldn't
be around the area this time of year. I'd like to confirm an ID before
reporting the bird.
http://tinanauman.zenfolio.com/p407927841/slideshow
<http://tinanauman.zenfolio.com/p407927841>
Tina Nauman
Lexington, KY
