[Birdnet] Melanistic harrier

[Jerry Lig]

Hi All:

Sherry and I were out today (Farmington Bay Management Area) and photographed a blackish harrier. This bird was distant, my views in binoculars were more vivid than the photos.

The bird is completely dark on the underbody (includes underwing coverts) with pale flight feathers that showed banded tips to the outer primaries (banding was similar to adult female or juvenile Northern harrier), and smudgy dark edge to secondaries. It was also completely dark above. Upperside was charcoal blackish-gray with a faint, dark grayish-blue sheen to upperwings. Tail appeared to have faint grayish bands. Lacked white uppertail coverts. 

It is most likely a melanistic Northern Harrier, I am not 100% sure at this point only because I would like to get close-up photos and don't want to rule out something different or rarer (I won't suggest what it could be because it is very unlikely). I will be out tomorrow weather permitting to see if I can find it again. There were many photographers out today if anyone else photographed it. It was distant and never came close so it could have easily gone unnoticed. If anyone is interested in seeing the photos, let me know....I will e-mail them.

Jerry
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