MacMe Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Jan 4, Aransas NWR, Texas. It has red eyes, could it be albino? I suppose not, since it has black feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 White-tailed Kite! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacMe Posted January 9, 2021 Author Share Posted January 9, 2021 Sure looks like it! Man, Merlin ID never brought this up as an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Just now, MacMe said: Sure looks like it! Man, Merlin ID never brought this up as an option Merlin is great for an idea of the bird, but it is nowhere near perfect. I think I stopped using it when it suggested a yellow warbler for a Robin in weird lighting, or something like that. Using a field guide as your reference is preferable, as it helps you learn what to look for in birds. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 (edited) @MacMe, great bird! 1 hour ago, Avery said: Using a field guide as your reference is preferable, as it helps you learn what to look for in birds. Give a man an app and it will identify birds for him. Give a man a field guide and he'll learn to identify birds for himself. Then he'll go on bird forums, babble about the importance of field guides, and act like he knows what he's talking about. Edited January 9, 2021 by Charlie Spencer 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Nice bird! @MacMe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 18 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: @MacMe, great bird Really? I see them every day here thinking it’s just like seeing a red tailed hawk? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, IKLland said: Really? I see them every day here thinking it’s just like seeing a red tailed hawk? It's all relative. I consider a Swallow-tailed Kite a great bird if I see one when visiting my parents in southeastern NC. When I'm at my bro-in-law's in central FL, it's just another raptor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: It's all relative. I consider a Swallow-tailed Kite a great bird if I see one when visiting my parents in southeastern NC. When I'm at my bro-in-law's in central FL, it's just another raptor. Ah, I get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 3 hours ago, IKLland said: Really? I see them every day here thinking it’s just like seeing a red tailed hawk? I’ve only seen one before (Galveston Island, TX) I guess it’s like this: White-tailed Kite is to @IKLland as Mississippi Kite is to @Seanbirds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 It has red eyes, which rules out most other hawk species, and all of them that are extensively white below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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