[texbirds] Rough-legged Hawk at San Luis Pass
- From: "R&K Lookingbill" <rklookingbill@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <davidkmcd@xxxxxxxxx>, <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:15:58 -0600
Hello Texbirders,
The Rough-Legged Hawk (RLHA) that is present on West Galveston Island near
San Luis Pass has been reported as a female. However, after reviewing some
nice photos of the bird, it is apparent that this bird is in juvenile
plumage. All RLHA juveniles - male and female - resemble adult females, and
the sex of the bird cannot be determined by plumage until its first molt
later this year. Adult birds are sexually dimorphic, and sex of adults is
easily determined (adult males are grayer usually with several dark tail
bands of varying widths, females are brown with a single side dark tail
band). Juveniles can only be sexed by measurement (usually).
Characteristics to look at on this bird showing it to be juvenile include:
The dark terminal tail band is "smudgy" - the line between the dark and
light areas is not distinct. An adult female would have a crisp, sharp edge
between the dark and light areas of the tail. Also, the dark tail band is
not apparent on the underside of the tail. An adult female would show the
distinct dark band on the underside of the tail. Further, the under side of
the wing for an adult female would show a wide, distinct dark band on the
trailing edge, which this bird does not have.
So, the age and sex of this RLHA is a juvenile (second year, in banding
lingo) of unknown sex.
We spent the month of January in the Mission Valley of western Montana, two
years in a row, studying this species. There were literally hundreds of
RLHA in the valley at that time. (And, yes, it was cold!)
Best Regards,
Robert & Kay Lookingbill
Lake Jackson, TX
----- Original Message -----
From: "David McDonald" <davidkmcd@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 2:48 PM
Subject: [texbirds] Rough-legged Hawk at San Luis Pass
> Hi Texbirders,
>
> I got down to see this rare hawk this morning. Only my second time to see
> it.
>
> It was quickly found on a pole before the blue water tower at 8:30. A
> few minutes later it flew off to hunt and returned to the pole about 9am.
>
> Here she is on the pole...the small feet and bill and feathered legs
> are clearly seen.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/148812303
>
> and
>
> http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/148812304
>
> Flying away, here is the underside
>
> http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/148812305
>
> and the distinctive white tail with wide dark terminal band can be seen
> here.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/148812306
>
> Great bird for Galveston.
>
> Good birding,
>
> David McDonald
> Friendswood TX
>
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