[Birdnet] Red-tail in Cache Valley

[Jerry Lig]

Hi All:

I wanted to respond to Kristin's question "Can a western juvenile light morph Red-tail have a pure white throat?" What a great question and a keen eye for looking at Red-tails here in Utah.

Red-tailed Hawk plumage is something I have always been interested in and wrote about in articles for BIRDING magazine....one detailing separating races of dark RT's and the other detailing pumage traits of light morphs. YES, Western juveniles and adults can show white throats. Plates RT 07 (right), RT 09 (right), RT 21 (harlan's), RT 29 (left), and RT 31 (left) in my book "Hawks From Every Angle" (not a plug, just referencing it because it shows examples) shows Western birds with white throats. Light morph Harlan's especially have white throats, a pale supercilium, streaky head, and snow-white underside. I suspect that is what Kristin saw. All races can have white throats and pale superciliums, but a combination of traits is what separates them. Tail and upperwing pattern are usually the best way to separate juvenile Harlan's, but not always....and it is often difficult to judge in the field. Because of variation in all races of RT's some birds are impossible to classify.

I have many photos from Utah of Westerns with white throats if anyone is interested in more examples.

Hope this helps,
Jerry
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