Keys Raptor

[Saul Panzer]

Saw this dark raptor in Marathon Key on 11/10.  Any thoughts?

 

DSC04660 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

[Pigeon]

Snail Kite?

[sfinmt]

Juvi White-tailed is about all I can come up with.  I have several other raptor books at home i can look at tonight.

Edited November 13, 2018 by sfinmt
added text

[IvoryBillHope]

Snail Kite and White-tailed Hawk should both have wings that extend past the tail I think.  That being said, I don't really have another suggestion at the moment. 

[sfinmt]

1 hour ago, IvoryBillHope said:

 ...wings that extend past the tail

Yes, a good field mark for WTHA.  Now that I have the image on my computer screen instead of a smartphone, is that a white  breast patch or are the feathers being blown out by the wind revealing the underside of the feathers?

[Charlie Spencer]

20 minutes ago, sfinmt said:

is that a white  breast patch or are the feathers being blown out by the wind revealing the underside of the feathers?

That's a great question.  I've been assuming it's a white patch, but we all know about assuming...

Is it possibly some Caribbean stray?  If the feathers are wind-blown, is a Common Black Hawk possible?  Dark, yellow legs, pale beak with black tip?

Edited November 13, 2018 by Charlie Spencer

[IvoryBillHope]

Can anyone rule out a dark morph Short-tailed Hawk?  Seems most likely option based on location. 

[Saul Panzer]

Here are the rest of the photos I was able to snap of this bird:

3 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

2 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

1 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

8 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

7 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

6 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

5 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

4 by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

[TooFly]

Another vote for short tailed hawk dark morph

[Charlie Spencer]

@sfinmt, good call on the wind-ruffled feathers!

[Saul Panzer]

Love this forum!  That makes 20 lifers for my Florida trip!

 

Thanks everyone!