Frog Tartare in my Back Yard

[StogieC]

http://www.youtube.com/v/cxQ1TJ2VtoM&hl=en&fs=1

I thought it odd that he let me approach within about three feet of him. He only looked up from lunch for about 10-20 sec to consider my approach.

Could this be a Falconer's lost bird? What type is it?

[sevristh]

I'd say immature red-shoulder. Possibly an immature broad wing (especially given your location), but you'd have to have a very close view of the tail to discern and even then it's a pain unless you are actually holding the bird. Did it have thick (about an inch) wide black and white bands on it's tail? Frogs are a common part of a RS's diet too.

The reason he let you get so close is probably because he's an immature bird and was hungry and so didn't care. I doubt it's a falconer's bird as 1) not many people at all fly them and 2) it's still immature, so would have had to have been caught and released this year.

[StogieC]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-_HfVWSGEbU/SYdb_ZNjYCI/AAAAAAAAAS8/x51uHQga228/s720/IMG_6014.JPG

This is about as good a pic of the tail as I got.

[sevristh]

Yeah, definitely either immature RS or BW. I would say RS since it looks to be fair sized and because of the frog diet. Do you live near a creek or some sort of water?

[sevristh]

The other way to be sure is that a lot of RS's make a GOD AWFUL racket when flying :) Do a search on red shouldered hawk call, and you can find numerous sites with recordings.

[Todd Brown]

I'm thinking this bird is a immature red-shouldered hawk. However, if you see it again or maybe you have a picture in flight, you should notice windows(it looks as though you can see through the wing out towards the ends,not at the tip) that run the width of the wing, parallel to it's body, if it's a red-shouldered hawk.If not it's a broad-winged hawk

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Todd

[paganlove22]

Im gonna say immy red shoulder. I trapped a broadwing a few months back and its toes were much more slender than this one in the pic. They look alot alike especially at a distance.

[StogieC]

Here's a link to all the pics I took.
http://picasaweb.google.com/StogieC/Hawk?feat=directlink

[Todd Brown]

where and when was this picture taken?.... 'cause according to cornell university's web site broad-wings aren't here in the winter except in the southern tip of florida.....still think it's a red-shoulder

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Todd

[StogieC]

where and when was this picture taken?.... 'cause according to cornell university's web site broad-wings aren't here in the winter except in the southern tip of florida.....still think it's a red-shoulder

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Todd

Just a few days ago in Daytona Beach, FL

[Todd Brown]

It's a red-shouldered hawk