Mystery hawk at Nariva Swamp, Trinidad, 7 March 2005. Photo © by Courtenay Rooks. Originally identified as a Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis),
potentially the first for Trinidad and Tobago and first documented
record for South America. According to Rooks, "At first I saw it
circling at a distance with the sun behind it... Generally below was
tones of buff, white, and a pale rufous, the wings having a dark
leading edge and a thinner dark trailing edge. The tail looked mostly
fair as the sun shone through it, I did notice light, thin banding
between pale buff and buff and a white tip... I never saw the upper
tail enough, so could not confirm its colour other than to say it was
darker than the under tail. Legs and beak were yellow, the beak was
very strong and had a dark tip. Eyes were an orangey red." For comments
on the identity of this bird, click here.
|
