[obol] Harlan's Hawk in Central Oregon

[DAVID IRONS]

Craig,

"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawks are reported annually in Oregon, probably no 
more than 2-3/year.  I have seen roughly 10 birds that I could certainly 
call harlani over the past 30 years.  In some cases dark morph Red-tails are 
reported as Harlan's, but your description of the mostly white tail and 
lighter underside of the flight feathers is perfect for harlani.

Dave Irons


>From: Craig Miller <gismiller at gmail.com>
>To: COBOL <cobol at lists.oregonstate.edu>,  OBOL <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
>Subject: [obol] Harlan's Hawk in Central Oregon
>Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:36:16 -0800
>
>Hi all,
>
>There is so much variability in Red-tailed Hawks that I don't usually
>spend much time trying to sort out the various morphs, races and
>subspecies. However, I observed what I can only conclude was a
>"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk this morning.
>
>I was outside our house and noticed a raptor off in the distance flying
>toward me from the north. My first thought was "Red-tailed Hawk." It
>looked dark silhouetted against the sky, so I waited for it to get at a
>better angle. It banked, and much to my surprise I saw an all-white tail
>against an otherwise dark back. As it came closer, and then flew by, I
>noticed dark underwing coverts with gray primaries and tail, all dark
>head, and dark upperparts with an all-white tail. The dark head and
>small build ruled out Bald Eagle, and the dark head combined with an
>all-white tail (not just a white band) ruled out dark morph Rough-legged
>Hawk. I don't think it was a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, because it had
>no rufous tones, and there was no white feathering on the upper primaries.
>
>I believe there have been a few reports of Harlan's Hawk in Central
>Oregon in the past, but this is a first for me. Do any of you raptor
>aficionados out there have some insights on the occurrence of this
>Red-tail subspecies in Oregon?
>
>Craig Miller
>gismiller at gmail.com
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