LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: White-tailed
Hawk, Buteo albicaudatus |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage
(e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): One, seemingly in
full adult plumage |
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3. Parish: Calcasieu |
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Specific Locality: Ca. 2.5 mi S of Iowa |
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4. Date(s) when observed: 12/01/2013 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: mid-day |
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6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette, LA |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified
the bird(s): David Muth |
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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): Full
sunlight to light overcast, sun behind us and bird
before us during most of observation. |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon Fieldscope, Nikon D50
w/300 mm lens. |
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11. Distance to bird(s):
Initially, I think the bird was about a
quarter of a mile away, and at least that distant
for most of the observation. At one
point we were able to drive closer at it soared over a rice field being
cut. It dropped into the field about
200 yards away at one point very briefly near the end of the sighting. |
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12. Duration of observation: Over an
hour. |
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13. Habitat: Ag prairie, rice
country. |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: First observed soaring high in
the distance in a group of about 8 hawks (Red-taileds and 1 Swainson’s) and being
harassed by a Crested Caracara. Continued to soar after the caracara left. Generally soared higher than other hawks, held
place in space, also hovered at times.
Drifted slowly east to west several times, lowered its legs in flight
several times. From a great height, the
hawks were apparently eyeing a rice field being cut. At one point the bird was close enough to
the field that we switched location.
This hawk was maintaining its high vantage point even at this site,
but went down to the field then quickly flew away (I was watching elsewhere
at the time and saw only the tail end of this). 15. Description: Strongly patterned buteo with long broad wings narrowing toward the tips,
bright white tail with distinct dark band.
Soared with wings slightly above the horizontal. Distance made exact
details impossible to detect but overall color and pattern noted. Clear bright white body below, medium dark
above with pure white tail except for distinct even-width black subterminal
band. Underwing linings bright white,
flight feathers dusky, darker at trailing edge. Superficially, the hawk looked all white
below except for a dark line along the rear edge of wings and tail. The upper surface of the bird appeared medium
grayish or brownish with darker wingtips, with the white of the tail
extending up the back as a wedge. Through the scope,
on the few occasions when the bird banked and showed its upper surface, a grayish
mantle and a reddish tint in the forewing was visible, but the extent and
pattern of color in these areas were impossible for me to determine. |
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16. Voice: |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by
your observation): Combination of black-banded white tail, white underwing
linings with darker flight feathers, bright white underparts eliminate “Krider’s” and “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged
Hawk, Crested Caracara, Bald Eagle, Ferruginous
Hawk, all of which can have whitish tails. |
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): yes, by
me. Poor but I believe definitive. |
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19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen
multiple individuals on many trips to their Texas range, though none recently. This is the third in this plumage I’ve seen
in Louisiana. I believe this is the 6th
White-tailed Hawk I’ve found in the state, and I think I’ve seen 8 over the
past 15 years. |
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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: memory |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not,
explain: Yes |
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23. Date: 12/01/2013 |
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