Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-40
Common name: |
Broad-winged Hawk |
Scientific name: | Buteo platypterus |
Date: | 26 Sep 2006 |
Time: | 11:30 AM |
Length of time observed: | 45 seconds |
Number: | 1 |
Age: | Juvenile |
Sex: | Unknown |
Location: | South of Squaw Peak Overlook, east of Provo |
County: | Utah |
Latilong: | 6 |
Elevation: | ~7200 feet |
Distance to bird: | ~ 40 to 200 ft |
Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binoculars |
Weather: | clear, no clouds, light breeze |
Light Conditions: | bright sunlight |
Description: Size of bird: | medium sized hawk |
(Description:) Basic Shape: | buteo sharped |
(Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark brown above, very light below |
(Description:) Bill Type: | raptor beak |
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
From above: - The birds was dark brown above with some light mottling on the back and upperwing coverts. - There was a white band across the uppertail coverts - The tail was grayish brown. From below: |
Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
Behavior: | The bird was flying along the front of the mountain a little bit below us. Then it hit an updraft and turned towards us riding the thermal very high straight over our heads. |
Habitat: | Open mountain slope |
Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
A Swainson's Hawk would have thinner longer wings with more contrast in colors
between the flight feathers and the underwing coverts. There would
probably be more bold spotting and streaking on the breast. A Red-tailed Hawk would have at least some signs of patagial markings (there was no trace on the bird we saw). It would probably have some belly-band streaking and would probably lack the streaking extending from the prominent malar stripes. We saw several Red-tailed Hawks in the same area and they seemed to be larger and more bulky with proportionately longer wings. A Gray Hawk would have more streaking on the breast and belly; less pronounced dark wing tips and trailing edge; and a longer tail. A Red-shouldered Hawk would have more streaking on the breast and belly and more of a window in the primaries surrounded by darker areas. The front part of the upperwing would probably have shown at least some rufous color. Accipiters would have longer tails with more pronounced bands of more equal widths. The underwings would have more markings and would lack the dark tips. They would lack dark malar stripes. |
Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen Broad-winged Hawks in Texas and Costa Rica. |
References consulted: | Sibley's field guide and Peterson's field guide to hawks. |
Description from: | Notes made later |
Observer: | Milton Moody (collaborating with Eric Huish) |
Observer's address: | 2795 Indian Hills Drive, Provo UT 84604 |
Observer's e-mail address: | miltonmoody@yahoo.com |
Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Eric Huish |
Date prepared: | 20 Sep 2006 |
Additional material: | None |
Additional comments: |