I was afraid this would happen. Tom Crabtree suspected the dark
Rough-legged Hawk posted earlier today (by me) was actually a dark phase
Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk. Tom sent my photos to Brian Sullivan (Crossley
Raptor ID Guide) and Brian identified it as a Harlan's. Tom's thoughts
were, "To me the tail doesn't look right for Roughie and the white flecking
on the breast also seems to point to Harlan's." Poor pitch by Gates but a
good catch by Crabtree. I added more photos to the eBird report at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61934344. ;
To me, Harlan's Hawk is the most befuddling of all North American Buteos.
I've misidentified two of them in the last couple of weeks. You'd think I
would learn by now.
Chuck Gates
Prineville Bird Club
Crooked River Wetlands Volunteer
541-280-4957
Powell Butte,
Central Oregon Oregon Birding Site Guide
<http://www.ecaudubon.org/birding-locations>
http://www.ecaudubon.org/birding-locations
Oregon County Checklists
<http://www.ecaudubon.org/county-checklists>
http://www.ecaudubon.org/county-checklists
