mystery bird

[falcongrrl]

birdwatching folks:

Today, while walking Sienna, I saw a largish bird flying that I thought was a raptor. I would describe the body as stocky. It had a reddish body in the sunlight, but then the tail underneath was bright white. I wondered if it was some kind of a hawk, but after looking it up I don't see anything that matches that remotely. Maybe some sort of fowl? Man, I wish I were better at this. :-) Anyway, can someone point me in the right direction? I'd really appreciate it.

(Orlando, FL, in the suburbs, though we have marshy areas and lakes all over the place.)

My other sighting was a great egret. I see them all the time, but I've hopefully finally learned the difference between the great (yellow bill and black feet) and the snowy (black bill with yellow nares and yellow feet.)

Comments

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

Does the Red-shouldered Hawk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-shouldered_Hawk) look familar?

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

That came to mind at first, but the underside of the tail was definitely bright white, no bands, where the red-shouldered hawk's tail is mostly dark with narrow bands of white.

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

Well, looking at the one from the Everglades is what made me think of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Red-shouldered_Hawk2.jpg

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I saw what I think is the same bird, closer up, and you were right. Good call! And thank you.

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

Quite welcome! I don't really do the whole birding thing as a hobby but I've always been fond of raptors.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way, only I'm fond of all birds (raptors especially so, even vultures, which a lot of people don't like). But I'm too lazy to learn calls and keep a life list and too cheap to buy binoculars. :-P