Thursday, June 30, 2011

Corralitas Drive: Red Tailed Hawk Baby?

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 30, 11:55 AM.  This is definitely one of the baby Red Tailed Hawks that I shot photos of at the same time. (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 30, 12:01 PM.  We think this might be one of the parents babies* in a nearby tree.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

*Update July 4, 2011.  Continued observation of the "babies," leads us to believe this is one of them, and not an adult.

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 30, 2011, 12:02 PM.  Same hawk as above photo.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

There is so much variation even in what we know for sure is the same hawk's expression.  The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website shows huge variation in the color and pattern of feathers.  I'm giving up trying to tell the adults and babies, as well as the male and female apart.  (Although, when seen together, the female is clearly significantly larger than the male in this family group.)