Wendy's first moult

[conorhawk]

Here are a few photos of my passage dark morph Red-Tail "Wendy" who is now moulting.

[chris kimble]

Conor,
I hope you will keep this thread updated when you can. I've always thought, (and I know that there are those who agree with me) that there arent enough comparison photos of juvie-adult plumage for redtails. There is so much variety in RT's and I cant count the number of times I've seen an interesting passage bird and asked myself what it might look like when it molts.... There are a lot of really strange looking redtails out there!

In fact, I would like to see a thread started here just for people to post "before & after" photos of their hawks, especially redtails. Any takers out there?

BTW, I really like your bird. Theres just something about those dark ones that I like!

[jfseaman]

(in the voice of Tom Hanks as Forest Gump)

Molt is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

[FredFogg]

I remember the first time I had a red-tail go through the molt. I kept every single feather, had a piece of cardboard that I layed them out on and pinned them and had the entire birds feathers on that board when she finished. I now bitch about having to pick up all the feathers. LOL Boy, how things change as the years go by! But I agree, it would be great to see before, during, and after pictures of not only red-tails, but all different types of birds on this thread or another one started just for it.

[conorhawk]

Conor,
I hope you will keep this thread updated when you can. I've always thought, (and I know that there are those who agree with me) that there arent enough comparison photos of juvie-adult plumage for redtails. There is so much variety in RT's and I cant count the number of times I've seen an interesting passage bird and asked myself what it might look like when it molts.... There are a lot of really strange looking redtails out there!

In fact, I would like to see a thread started here just for people to post "before & after" photos of their hawks, especially redtails. Any takers out there?

BTW, I really like your bird. Theres just something about those dark ones that I like!

Thank you very much she is an amazing bird and I will most likely keep her for life.

I will update this thread every time I see new feathers coming in.

[conorhawk]

I remember the first time I had a red-tail go through the molt. I kept every single feather, had a piece of cardboard that I layed them out on and pinned them and had the entire birds feathers on that board when she finished.

That's just great you gave me yet another idea on how to wayste my time ha.

My sponsor used to bitch about cleaning up feathers but now he just sends me in to do it.

[FredFogg]

That's just great you gave me yet another idea on how to wayste my time ha.

My sponsor used to bitch about cleaning up feathers but now he just sends me in to do it.

Hmmm, you just gave me an idea, maybe I need to get an apprentice! LOL

[conorhawk]

yep thats me
flush duck off a pond, yard work, feed the pigeons, clean the pigeon loft, cut up hawk food, feed the falcons, clean the chambers, pick up pine needles, take out the trash, and clean the mutes off the garage floor.

then I get home and have homework
make braided gear,fly my bird, cut up my hawk food, clean my bird's mutes, cut the grass in my weathering yard, feed my pigeons, clean my pigeon loft, and take photos to post on NAFEX

hey I'm not saying a word I love what I do almost...

[cllhawker]

Awesome pics conor, i still want that bird. keep the pics coming

[FredFogg]

yep thats me
flush duck off a pond, yard work, feed the pigeons, clean the pigeon loft, cut up hawk food, feed the falcons, clean the chambers, pick up pine needles, take out the trash, and clean the mutes off the garage floor.

then I get home and have homework
make braided gear,fly my bird, cut up my hawk food, clean my bird's mutes, cut the grass in my weathering yard, feed my pigeons, clean my pigeon loft, and take photos to post on NAFEX

hey I'm not saying a word I love what I do almost...

Connor, do you have a cousin that lives in NC that is looking for a sponser? Tell him to call me! LOL

[varanus]

That is on sexy bird you have there. Wish we had them colored like that around here.

[conorhawk]

That is on sexy bird you have there. Wish we had them colored like that around here.

Thank you very much!

[conorhawk]

[JRedig]

It's gonna be like a little eagle, very cool looking bird!

[conorhawk]

thanks, that is what my sponsor said is that she fly's like a mini eagle because she can cover so much ground in such little time.

[Fawkes]

Very cool looking red-tail - I love how (for lack of a better word) orange she is. I'm looking forward to my little MHH's first moult this year, but we all know what he's going to look like already :P

Keep the pics coming!

[OATS]

Conor, nice to see that red feather pop through the sheath! I don't know if you knew this, but many dark phase RTs do not develop redtails. Here in Alaska we have more Harlan's phase RTs than we do the blond chested western phase. Therefore, I get to see quite a few moulted Harlan's phase RTs. Many grow very drab tail colors and many even whitish ones. None look as good as the classic red that yours seems to be growing! See how dark those new feathers coming in are? Some of that is due to fading, but much of that is the gradual darkening they seem to get as they mature. As I had mentioned previously I watched one of my Dark birds moult 5 times.

Also, many people used to call my first Harlan's hawk a mini golden eagle too. Your bird is more of a golden color than mine was. She was much darker. But she did grow a beautiful brick red tail like yours is. Talk to you later.

[conorhawk]

[cllhawker]

Dude shes gorgeous! Her new feathers look nice and dark.

[Eragon]

Beautiful bird Connor! I love how red her chest seems to be getting!

And green grass! I haven't seen that in 6 months! Haha!

[YARAK191]

Just got back from LA n saw 2 nice choclate reds.
I want to go back n trap one one day.
Conor u could sell dark morphs so after next year u need to start breeding n sell me one!!!!I will pay 6oo hundred if it covers health n shipping . DO IT DO IT!!

[cllhawker]

Im with rich! You should breed them, id buy one also!!! DO IT!!! DO IT!!!!

[conorhawk]

Nah I don't belive in breeding birds that you can trap or pull from a nest, everyone thinks that it is so hard to get a dark morph Red tail. all you need to do is go to a place that has them and look they will turn up. I saw 5 dark passage birds this year in California.

I am sure they can be found in California,Arizona,Nevada,
New Mexico,Texas,Washington,Colorado,Wyoming,Utah,Idah o,Nebraska,Oklahoma, Alaska, and Canada. correct me if I'm wrong.

[YARAK191]

Nah I don't belive in breeding birds that you can trap or pull from a nest, everyone thinks that it is so hard to get a dark morph Red tail. all you need to do is go to a place that has them and look they will turn up. I saw 5 dark passage birds this year in California.

I am sure they can be found in California,Arizona,Nevada,
New Mexico,Texas,Washington,Colorado,Wyoming,Utah,Idah o,Nebraska,Oklahoma, Alaska, and Canada. correct me if I'm wrong.

The plane ride or the drive out from North Carolina would cost as much as a white gyr. If u want to trap n send me one or two it would b great.....DO IT DO IT

[skooky20]

any new pics of your tail molting

[conorhawk]

here are a few pics from about 3 weeks ago she is coming along great she has dropped 10 tail feathers, about 15 secondaries/primaries, and maybe 300 body/back feather.

[conorhawk]

well I haven't updated in a while so here she is!

[Saluqi]

Stunning bird you got there Conor.

[conorhawk]

Thanks Paul I have to admit I'm a bit bummed out with how she is looking just because she is turning out to be a rufous and I thought she would be darker than that oh well I guess I'm just a spoiled brat.

[Tanner]

Yeah dude - she really doesn't look very good. You should let me take her off your hands so you can get a decent looking bird.

[robruger1]

Very cool looking 'tail. We just don't have 'tails that look like that up here where i live. Ours are very generic and plain, I really wish we got some of the cooler phases...... I'd start throwing her some food things help keep that beak in check, maybe some bunny heads or chicken necks to help it from getting any longer before you get a chance to cope her.

[conorhawk]

Very cool looking 'tail. We just don't have 'tails that look like that up here where i live. Ours are very generic and plain, I really wish we got some of the cooler phases...... I'd start throwing her some food things help keep that beak in check, maybe some bunny heads or chicken necks to help it from getting any longer before you get a chance to cope her.

Funny you should say that because i have been feeding her lots of jack and bunny heads so it will get worn down i'm sure i will need to cope her but i will wait until she's out i don't want to piss her off.

[starburst89]

I love the red color on her chest! She looks great. I love the Rufous birds!

[conorhawk]

here is a clip of wendy that i thought might be fun to watch for you guys.
sorry for the blur though.
http://vimeo.com/11694100

[Mzingie]

Great looking bird conor! Definately in the top 5 of the coolest looking red-tails i've seen lol.