This looks like a white plastic bag wrapped around the end of a branch that the
hawk picked-up or broke-off. If this was an animal being carried (solely) by
the tail, I think the rest of the carcass would be hanging down because
carrying it by the tail wouldn't support the weight of the carcass in a
horizontal position. Plus, that's an odd and awkward way for hawks to carry
prey. Also, it looks too convoluted in shape and appears to change shape in the
horizontal vs tumbling photo to be a carcass, and I think I can see some
translucence on part of it. I find several examples on the internet of RETHs
picking-up and using discarded plastic for nest-lining or ornamentation. But if
this is a second year bird, I don't believe it should be nesting yet. If this
is a plastic bag, (maybe) the bird mistook it for prey, or picked it up out of
curiosity(?).
Dan Weidert
Campbellsport
Fond du Lac County
-----Original Message-----
From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Mark Korducki
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 7:26 PM
To: dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wisb] Re: hawk ID help please
Swainson’s should show the 2 tone underwing pattern with dark back half of wing
and white wing linings. This bird had white undersides of wings. I think it’s a
second year red-tailed. There are some strange angles and lighting artifacts
that make it look strange
Mark Korducki
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 24, 2020, at 6:28 PM, Hyndla Kensdottir (Redacted sender hyndla53704####################
for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tracy,
It certainly has several characteristics that fit a Swainson'sDark Tail with
lighter baseDark head and breastDark mark at wrist on white underwing area.
Dark edges to flight feathersSlight dihedral in soar positionWing proportion
different than a Red tail - look less wide or slimmerWing tips look more
pointed or flame shaped than Red-tailThe size of the bird is appropriate for
opossums as prey
Those are the details I remember without referring directly to your photos.
There are a lot more i flight details that could be checked in"Hawks in
Flight" or Hawks from Every Angle" if you have those guides. .
Pam SkaarMadison
On Friday, April 24, 2020, 02:04:44 PM CDT, tracy chiconas
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks Pam! I hear you about the dark tail!
Thanks Marcia!
Thanks Steve! For a moment i was thinking Harrier also. I am leaning most
towards a Swanson's Hawk. If anyone has experience ID-ing one, i'd love to
hear what you think!
That is interesting Jym. I didn't think of that. I will look into that. Thank
you!
- Tracy Chiconas
Mil. Co.
tchiconas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Friday, April 24, 2020, 11:22:39 AM PDT, Jym Mooney & Carol Lee Hopkins
<hopmoon@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The odd light area at the base of the primaries looks like the annual
juvenile molt of a Broad-tailed Hawk. Obviously, if that is correct,
this bird is NOT carrying anything near so large as an opossum. Just
my two cents.
Jym Mooney, Milwaukee
On 4/24/2020 7:46 AM, tracy chiconas (Redacted sender tchiconas for####################
DMARC) wrote:
good morning :)
I have a bird in question that i saw a few days ago. I saw it in the
sky while i was in a car. I quick reached down by my feet to grab my camera
out of my back pack & take a few pics through the windshield. Unfortunately
there were no other birds in that area at that time, therefore no
significant size comparison is available. If one feels confident that it's
prey is an opossum, then that may help; but then again, no real way of
knowing the size of the opossum, except likely an adult by the tail (if that
is a tail). I think perhaps it was loosing its grip on its food. It turned
180 to adjust grip. I have a pic of it upside down, & also posted a rotated
image. In total i was able to take 4 images before it went below trees & out
of sight. I feel strongly that the bird in question is RETH size or larger;
but also it was some distance away.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S67709520
Any feedback is welcomed & much appreciated!!
Tracy Chiconas
Mil Wi
tchiconas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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