LOUISIANA
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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1 immature/subadult |
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3. Locality: Cameron Parish |
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Specific Locality: 3.4 mi E of Johnsons Bayou |
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4. Date(s) when observed: March 27, 2011 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: 3:15 pm |
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6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
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Mac Myers |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): sunny, angle was fine |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): naked eye, zeiss 10s, Nikon Fieldscope 20-60. all look bad but see well. |
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11. Distance to bird(s): maybe 100 yards to about half a mile? |
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12. Duration of observation: about 5-10 minutes |
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13. Habitat: stingray gas plant, a monstrosity of metal buildings, giant pipelines, and powerlines surrounded by coastal grasslands. |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): zipped across the road ahead of us, disappeared behind buildings, came up in the great distance and began to hover. hovering behavior very cool: bird faced into the wind in saint esprit position, kept wings outstretched and tail spread, and at the frequency of about once per second to once per three seconds did a quick downward/forward pivot on its shoulder joints to buck its wings in the wind. wings moved only slightly during these pivots. |
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15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not
what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total
length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape,
proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage
characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species): large, long-winged, relatively
long-tailed and long-necked looking buteo. overall very pale, including underwing
which lacked the unified dark patagium of a
red-tailed hawk. Underparts including underwing of
a very white ground color. some speckling visible on underwing
tracing the outline of the underwing coverts, with
standard comma markings at wrists. tail from below pale. dorsally,
pale brown ground color with distinct white outer primary panels, dark
primary tips, and dusky primary coverts.
tail pale whitish with dusky wash. head whitish. in photos, I can
see a reddish patch on the lesser upperwing
coverts. The bird was seen mainly from the distance after a brief naked eye observation as it crossed the highway ahead of us. the description above is rudimentary, but combined with photos, should suffice. |
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16. Voice: n/a |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): pale redtails have similar pale primary panels and pale tails, but the pale patches, tail, and head of this ferruginous were startlingly distinct from the dark ground color, giving the impression of a caracara. obvious morphological difference in long tapered wing shape, long head and neck extension, and resulting silhouette quite different from redtail. photos bad but all diagnostic features discernible. |
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): poor but adequate photos from quite a distance, conover. |
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19. Previous experience with this species: seen out west many times, also in Louisiana on several occasions including twice in past 5 months. |
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20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): |
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a. at time of observation:
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b. after observation: |
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21. This description is written from details committed to memory, photo review. |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: yes |
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23. Date: 3/30/2011 |
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