Armchair Birdwatch: Get Your Raptor Eyes On

By Mike • August 2, 2007 • 6 comments

It may be mid-summer now, but hawkwatch season is right around the corner. Time to start brushing up on hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures! Dave Dorsey, the Education Presenter/Web Editor for the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, AK and voice of BirdTLC, is a true friend, the kind that wants people to enjoy success in their raptor interactions. Every so often, he sends me a photo of the treatment center’s most interesting guests, probably because he gets a kick out of my erroneous attempts at identification. Let’s see if he gets a kick out of yours…

This bedraggled bird was brought into the treatment center with a injured left wing, fx radius to be exact. The picture might not be perfect nor the pose optimal for identification purposes, but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? What species of raptor is this?

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About the Author

Mike

Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but what he really aspires to be is a naturalist. Besides founding 10,000 Birds and I and the Bird, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining sites and resources such as Nature Blog Network and Best Birding Tours.

6 Responses to “Armchair Birdwatch: Get Your Raptor Eyes On”

Patrick Aug 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm

How about a dark morph Red-tail?
Keith Aug 2nd, 2007 at 1:12 pm

Hi
To my British eyes it looks like a 1st year Bald Eagle, not that I have seen one in Bristol, England so I expect that I am wrong.

Have just noticed that Charlie (one of your co hosts) has become a member of a wildlife forum based in Bristol England and has posted some very interesting pictures of bees/wasps while he has been recuperating in his garden.

I find your site very interesting with lots of good posts so keep up the good work.
Will Aug 2nd, 2007 at 4:01 pm

I’m going with a 1st year Bald Eagle…
Patrick Aug 2nd, 2007 at 9:43 pm

Can I change my vote? I’m making this quiz harder than it is.
Mike Aug 3rd, 2007 at 7:28 am

Wise idea, Patrick. While I was certain the bird was a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, Dave assures me it really is a first year Bald Eagle.
Dave Aug 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 pm

It is Mike. It was barely out of the nest before it had it’s crash test. I can see where the doubts are though if it’s hawk or eagle. But it is a first year bald eagle.