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what kind of hawk?

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Old 12-04-2008, 05:45 PM
  #1  
Spike
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Location: Northern WI
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Default what kind of hawk?

I've been bowhunting in town (yes it's legal). There is a huge chunk of swamp between my house and our refinery. When I walk out to where I hunt I've been checked out pretty closely by a pair of hawks. One in particular comes swooping in from across the field when it sees me and hovers low above me . I fianally got a pic of the bugger. Any Idea's as to what she is? I live in Northern WI. I don't think it's a redtail.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh77/brushbuck28/animals/hawkinwinter2.jpg
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Old 12-05-2008, 01:04 PM
  #2  
Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

I think it is a juevenile Redtail but hard to tell from the pic.
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Old 12-05-2008, 06:34 PM
  #3  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

I thought the same thing Chris...but look at the head..I may go grab my bird book to figure this out.
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Old 12-26-2008, 11:32 PM
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

either roughed legged hawk (light phase) or goshawk hard to tell with photo
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Old 12-28-2008, 09:33 AM
  #5  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

It's a roughed legged hawk... Tail is too short for a goshawk, and goshawks don't hover much..

One field mark to look for on the rough legs...When they hover, the undersides of the wings are light colored, except for a distictictive dark band across the "wrist" on the underside of the wing..
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Old 01-02-2009, 10:07 PM
  #6  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

Its possibly a Northern Harrier - But I can see why some think its a rough legged hawk (the head looks right).

We see more & more of these in NY. Its a great bird to watch hunt for mice - they glide the fields - and will "hover" if a mouse catched their eye. I've had them follow me around brushhogging. The definitive ID marking is the White Spot on the base of the tail (topside).

There is a red phase and Grey Phase - depending on locale.







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Old 01-03-2009, 07:59 AM
  #7  
Spike
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

Thank you guys! I have a pic(not a good one ) when she got off the tree. She has a white band at the base of her tail on the top
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh77/brushbuck28/hawkinflight.jpg
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Old 01-03-2009, 02:03 PM
  #8  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

Rough leg...The black wrist/elbow marking is clearly visible on the underside of the wing...

Roughlegs nest in the arctic in summer andmigrate south to feed in the winter... Being in the northern US states is like a tropical vacation to them... Another winter visitor is the short eared owl, which glides low over fields much like the northern harrier, and can be easily mistaken for a hawk..
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Old 01-03-2009, 02:06 PM
  #9  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

The broad tail certainly rules out a northern harrier...

I still say rough leg...
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Old 01-03-2009, 09:37 PM
  #10  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: what kind of hawk?

Its a Northern Harrier

Yours:


Stock Photo - Northern Harrier


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