Hawks at Jordan Dam Today; Whew, 3 species!!!!!

I had spent all winter trying to get a photo of the first hawk in this group of Buteo hawks.

Buteo hawks are all called broad-winged hawks which is confusing because in the group there is a Broad-Winged Hawk!

This morning a medium-sized hawk appeared from the hill above the dam: it was my elusive Broad-winged hawk.

Broad-winged Hawk

Often confused with the red-shouldered hawk and even though it is fairly common,

is dismissed as a red-shouldered hawk and we don’t look twice.

Note the broad white tail stripe and the distinct black band that edges the trailing edge of the wing from wing-tips to body.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Looks very similar doesn’t it! But this hawk doesn’t have the broad black band lining the trailing edge of the wing.

BTW this is a juvenile; the other 2 hawks in this group are adults and that can add to the identification problems.

Red-tailed Hawk

All 3 birds are similar, in part because of the body shape and broad-wings.

Look back at the wings of all three hawks.

Note just how much distance there is from leading edge to trailing edge of the wing: BROAD WINGS indeed!