[obol] Harlan's Hawk in Central Oregon

[Helzer, David]

Harlan's are a regular migrant through Oregon and small numbers winter.
I recall reading reports over the years from the Fort Rock area as well
areas in NE OR.  They winter in the Skagit Delta (WA) on a regular
basis.  I can't recall seeing one in Malheur or Klamath, but I would
expect them to show up their from time to time.  They move from Alaska
to their core winter range on the southern great plains, and Oregon is
on the way for some birds.

Many Harlan's are dark morph and this is what most guides illustrate and
what people expect, but they also occur in a light morph.  We had a
light morph here at Portland Airport last winter. I think light morph
are more frequent than birders realize and my theory is that the
occasional report in Oregon of a Krider's Red-tail may actually be light
morph Harlan's Hawks.  Kriders very rarely stray from the great plains.
I also think Dave Irons is correct than many dark red-tails of the
western subspecies are reported as Harlan's, since this Harlan's is the
only dark morph red-tail in some field guides.

Dave

Dave Helzer
Wildlife Technician
Port of Portland Aviation Environmental
Portland International Airport
T: 503.460.4879
C: 503.830.0713
david.helzer at portofportland.com


Subject: Re: [obol] Harlan's Hawk in Central Oregon
From: "DAVID IRONS" <llsdirons AT msn.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:48:13 +0000
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 
>To: COBOL ,  OBOL 
>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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Dave Helzer
Wildlife Technician
Port of Portland Aviation Environmental
Portland International Airport
> T: 503.460.4879
C: 503.830.0713
david.helzer at portofportland.com

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