ADVANCES IN RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION

Dark Red-tailed Hawks

Introduction
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most polymorphic raptor
in North America, ranging from almost completely
whitish to completely blackish underneath, with nu-
merous plumage variations in between. There are
three main categories (sometimes referred to as
“phases” or “forms”; more cor-
Jerry Liguori rectly referred to as “morphs”)
3055 Plateau Drive
of the Red-tailed Hawk—light,
Salt Lake City UT 84109
[email protected] intermediate (rufous), and
dark, and there is plumage
variation within all three. Intermediate- and dark-
morph “Western” Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicen-
sis calurus) occur primarily in the western regions
of the United States and Canada. Intergrades
between two colorations result in offspring
that may exhibit plumage characteristics of
both parents, or that may appear similar
to either parent. The same is true for
intergrades between Western
and “Harlan’s” (B. j. harlanii)
Red-tailed Hawks, which some-
times interbreed where their
ranges overlap in Alaska and Cana-
da. Surprisingly, I have observed that pair-
ings between light-morph and dark-morph indi- Fig. 1. This typical intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed Hawk
has streaking across the underside, but it is less heavily marked
viduals are more common than pairings between on the breast. Because this bird appears pale-breasted due to the
lighting, it could be mistaken for a light-morph individual at a
two dark-morph individuals. distance. Wasatch Mountains, Utah; October 2002. © Jerry Liguori.

500 BIRDING • OCTOBER 2004

 Under normal field conditions, spe-
cific plumage traits of raptors may be im-
possible to view. Even close-up views can
be insufficient when attempting to ob-
serve specific plumage traits that sepa-
rate intermediate- and dark-morph
Red-tailed Hawks. Since Western inter-
Fig. 2. This intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed Hawk is evenly streaked across the undersides,
mediate- and dark-morph birds can ap- with little contrast between the breast and belly. Wasatch Mountains, Utah; October 2003. © Jerry Liguori.
pear identical in the field, I often
categorize them together as “dark” birds
in the field. This article is meant to call
attention to the difficulty in distinguish-
ing among “dark” Red-tailed Hawks as
they typically appear in flight.
General discussion of variation in the
Red-tailed Hawk has been provided by
Clark and Wheeler (1997, 2001) and
Wheeler (2003), and further information
will be presented in Liguori (in press).
For an introduction to the specific prob-
lem of light-morph Red-tailed Hawks
(which is not a major focus of the pres-
ent article), see Liguori (2001). The ma-
terial presented below is summarized in
Table 1 (p. 504), but the table should not
be used as a substitute for the text that
follows; rather, the two resources should
be used in combination.

Juvenile Western and Harlan’s Fig. 3. Juvenile intermediate- (left) and dark-morph (right) Red-tailed Hawks can both appear dark
Juvenile intermediate-morph Western overall, and they often look similar to each other under typical field conditions. Composite photograph.
Goshute Mountains, Nevada; October 1998. © Jerry Liguori.
Red-tailed Hawks have heavily mottled
bellies, with streaking on the breast that
appears slightly paler overall than the
belly. The underwing coverts are heavily
mottled as well, often masking the pata-
gial bars, which can be a recognizable
field mark on light Red-tailed Hawks
(Fig. 1). However, some intermediate-
morph birds and intergrades between
dark- and intermediate-morph birds are
evenly streaked throughout the under-
body (Fig. 2). Juvenile dark-morph
Western Red-tailed Hawks have solid-
brown bodies and underwing coverts, al-
though it is often difficult to make the
distinction between intermediate- and
dark-morph birds under typical field
conditions (Fig. 3). Some solid-dark
Fig. 4. Many intermediate-morph Harlan’s Hawks, such as this one, have streaked breasts simi-
birds may have faint speckling on the lar to what is shown by intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed Hawks. Note the black-and-
belly, but this mark is difficult to see at white coloration, the heavily banded flight feathers with band-tipped primaries, the mottled
any distance. head, and the white throat. Goshute Mountains, Nevada; November 2001. © Jerry Liguori.

W W W. A M E R I C A N B I R D I N G . O R G 501
 D A R K R E D - TA I L E D H AW K S

Fig. 5. Typical intermediate-morph Harlan’s Hawks,

such as this one, are similar to intermediate-morph
Western Red-tailed Hawks. Note the black-and-
white coloration and the heavily banded flight
feathers with band-tipped primaries. Yellowstone
National Park, Wyoming; November 2003. © Chris Neri.

Juvenile intermediate- and dark-

morph Harlan’s are extremely diffi-
cult to distinguish from Western
Red-taileds in flight. Generally,
Harlan’s are blackish (not brown)
underneath with white (not buff)
mottling. Intermediate-morph Har-
lan’s, which are the most common
morph of Harlan’s Red-tailed
Hawks, have white throats and pale
mottling on the head, whereas in-
termediate- and dark-morph West-
erns do not; these traits can be
helpful in the identification of Har-
lan’s, especially when viewed from
a head-on angle (Fig. 4). Most Har-
Fig. 6. Dark-morph Harlan’s Hawks are
blackish underneath, as opposed to warm- lan’s are heavily streaked under-
brown as on Western Red-tailed Hawks. neath, but some may have faintly
However, the difference in coloration streaked breasts (intermediate-
between the two races is difficult to assess morph birds), while others may be
in flight. Note the heavily banded flight solidly dark (Figs. 5 & 6).
feathers with band-tipped primaries.
Lucky Peak, Idaho; October 2001. © Ryan Brady. The dark bands on the remiges
(i.e., the flight feathers of the wing)
of Harlan’s are relatively broad and
often wavy, making Harlan’s appear heavily marked throughout the
underwings. One of the most telling features of a juvenile intermedi-
ate-morph Harlan’s is the bright, white mottling on the upperwing
coverts and flight feathers, which is often extensive and which often
contrasts with a blackish upperside (Fig. 7). Western Red-tailed
Hawks have less extensive buff (not white) mot-
tling on the upperwing (Fig. 8), and the flight
feathers are not as boldly banded underneath. Both
Western and Harlan’s that are solidly dark under-
neath can lack mottling on the upperwings. Inter-
mediate- and dark-morph Western Red-tailed
Hawks have heavily barred, brown (juveniles) or
rufous (adults) uppertail coverts, which appear
dark overall in the field. Heavily marked light-
morph Westerns can have completely rufous up-
pertail coverts (Figs. 8 & 11); however, if a West-
ern Red-tailed Hawk shows pale uppertail coverts
that contrast with the tail, it is a light morph.

Fig. 7. The upperside of an intermediate-morph Harlan’s Hawk is blackish

overall, with bright white mottling along the upperwing coverts and
black-and-white-banded flight feathers. Same bird as Fig. 4. © Jerry Liguori.

502 BIRDING • OCTOBER 2004

Fig. 8. Juvenile intermediate-morph Western Red-
tailed Hawks, such as this one, are brown on top
with moderate pale mottling and heavily barred
uppertail coverts. Wasatch Mountains, Utah; October
2002. © Jerry Liguori.

Adult Western and Harlan’s Fig. 9. Adult dark-

Adult dark-morph Western Red- morph Western
Red-tailed Hawks
tailed Hawks have solid-brown are solid brown
bodies and underwing coverts (not blackish)
(Fig. 9). Adult intermediate- underneath, with
morph birds show a dark under- contrasting pale
wing with sparse mottling and a flight feathers.
Goshute Mountains,
dark-brown belly that contrasts Nevada; October
with a dark-rufous breast. Inter- 1998. © Jerry Liguori.
mediate-morph birds are much
more common (about 90% of all
“dark” Westerns) than dark-
morph birds; discerning the two
in flight can be impossible under
typical field conditions (Fig. 10).
Solid-dark Westerns are more
common in the Pacific Northwest
than they are in other areas. The
upperwing of adult dark-morph
and intermediate-morph birds is
similar to that of light-morph
birds, but it is often darker brown
and it often lacks mottling (Fig.
11). All morphs may or may not
have blackish banding throughout
the tail.
Dark-morph Harlan’s resembles
Western, but it is black-and-white
overall. Adults can be solid-dark
underneath, but most show some
white mottling on the breast (Figs.
12 & 13). Dark- and intermediate-

Fig. 10. Adult intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed

Hawks are brown underneath, with rufous breasts that are
slightly paler than those of dark-morph birds. However, they
appear similar to dark-morph birds under typical field condi-
tions or at any fair distance (see inset). Composite photograph.
Goshute Mountains, Nevada; October 1998. © Jerry Liguori.

Fig. 11. Adult dark-morph Western Red-taileds are darker

brown on top and lack a golden nape, compared to light-
morph birds. Note the lack of mottling to the upperwing
and the lack of contrast between the uppertail coverts
and tail. Wasatch Mountains, Utah; October 2002. © Jerry Liguori.

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Table 1. Summary of distinguishing features between “Western” and “Harlan’s” Red tailed Hawks. morph adult Harlan’s sometimes
Key marks are given for juvenile vs. adult plumages and for intermediate-morph vs. dark-morph plumages. have pale carpals, which are not
—————————————————————————————————————————— shown by “dark” Westerns. Har-
UNDERPARTS UPPERPARTS TAIL lan’s usually has a pale grayish or
—————————————————————————————————————————— whitish tail with a dark tip, similar
“Western” Red-tailed Hawk to the tail of an immature Golden
INTERMEDIATE MORPH ———————————————————————————————––––– Eagle or light-morph Rough-
legged Hawk; however, the tail-tip
JUVENILE Heavily mottled Dark overall with pale Brown, with of Harlan’s is narrow, smudgy, and
throughout; breast mottling on upperwing multiple, narrow,
slightly paler than coverts; pale primary pale bands; similar less distinct (Figs. 14 & 15). From
rest of underparts wing panels to light-morph birds below, the tail of any adult Red-
tailed Hawk can appear whitish,
ADULT Solidly dark-brown Solidly dark-brown, Reddish-orange;
belly and underwing with limited tends to have multiple, but all Harlan’s Hawks’ tails appear
coverts, with paler mottling on narrow, black bands particularly white, and the dark
rufous-brown breast upperwing coverts throughout tail-tip of Harlan’s appears broader
than the dark sub-terminal band
DARK MORPH ———————————————————————————————––––––––––––
on Western Red-tailed Hawks (Fig.
JUVENILE Solidly dark-brown Dark overall, with Brown, with 12). The tail of Harlan’s may also
across underside, limited pale mottling multiple, narrow, be completely banded black-and-
with paler flight on upperwing pale bands; similar
feathers coverts and faint, to light-morph birds white, although this tail type is un-
pale primary panels common and typically occurs only
on birds that are solid-dark under-
ADULT Solidly brownish- Solidly brownish- Reddish-orange; neath. Alternatively, the tail may
black across black; tends to tends to have
underside, with lack mottling multiple, narrow, show rufous tones throughout, es-
paler flight on upperwing black bands pecially on light adults and on in-
feathers coverts throughout tergrades between Harlan’s and
—————————————————————————————————————————— Western. Dark-morph Harlan’s
“Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk Hawks can be tricky to identify in
flight, but simply put, an adult
INTERMEDIATE MORPH ———————————————————————————————–––––
“dark” Red-tailed Hawk that has
JUVENILE Heavily mottled Blackish overall Blackish, with white mottling on the breast or
blackish-and-white with bold white multiple, narrow, that lacks a reddish tail is a Har-
overall; breast slightly mottling on whitish bands; lan’s.
paler than rest of upperwing coverts; “spiked” tail-tips
underparts; heavily whitish primary are difficult to
banded flight feathers panels observe Pitfalls
Some adult light-morph Western
ADULT Solid blackish Solid brownish- Mottled grayish
belly and underwing black; tends to lack with broad, smudgy, Red-tailed Hawks have a distinct
coverts, with white mottling on dark tip; some rufous tone to the underside and
mottling on breast; upperwing coverts intermediate adults can appear dark in the field (Fig.
flight feathers may have a grayish tail 16). Also, some juvenile light-
lack banding with pinkish tip
morph Western birds have heavily
DARK MORPH ———————————————————————————————–––––––––––– marked underwing linings and
belly bands, combined with streak-
JUVENILE Solid blackish Blackish overall; Blackish, with multiple,
overall; heavily lacks mottling on narrow whitish bands; ing to the sides of the breast, mak-
banded flight upperwing coverts “spiked” tail-tips ing them appear dark at certain an-
feathers and has faint, pale are difficult to observe gles. Intergrades between light and
primary panels “dark” birds occur and are ex-
ADULT Solid blackish Solid brownish- Mottled grayish tremely difficult to categorize in
overall; may have black; lacks with broad, smudgy, the field (Figs. 17 & 18). Of
sparse white mottling on dark tip; tails of course, birds of all colorations can
flecking on breast; upperwing some birds are
flight feathers coverts completely banded appear dark when shadowed or on
may lack banding black-and-white overcast days. On true dark-morph
birds, the pale flight feathers con-
——————————————————————————————————————————

504 BIRDING • OCTOBER 2004

Fig. 12. Even at a distance, the following marks are noticeable on an
adult intermediate Harlan’s Hawk: black body and underwing coverts;
white mottling on breast; whitish tail with broad dark tip; lack of
banding on the remiges; and broad terminal band on the trailing
edge of the wings. Brockway Mountain, Michigan; April 2003. © Jerry Liguori.

trast with the darker body and underwing

coverts. Conversely, juvenile and adult inter-
mediate-morph birds often look paler than
usual on the breast (and thus similar to light-
morph birds), especially at certain angles or
when the sun illuminates the breast directly
(Fig. 1).
Some field marks, such as the banded tips to
the outer primaries and the narrow dark
“spikes” on the tips of the tail feathers on ju-
venile Harlan’s, are nearly impossible to see on
moving birds, even when close-up. Also, most
adult Harlan’s Hawks have unbanded tips to
the primaries, whereas some juvenile Red-
taileds of other races show banded tips to the
primaries and faintly “spiked” tail-tips. Unlike
Fig. 13. Adult dark-morph Harlan’s are solid blackish
underneath and look similar to adult dark-morph
Western Red-tailed Hawks. Some dark-morph Har-
lan’s, such as this one, have minimal white flecking
on the breast. Note the marbled appearance to the
remiges. Cache Valley, Utah; November 2003. © Mark Vekasy.

Fig. 14. Adult intermediate-morph

and dark-morph Harlan’s often pos-
sess a whitish tail with a dark tip,
and they often lack pale mottling
along the upper wing. Boise, Idaho;
December 2003. © Jerry Liguori.

Fig. 15. Some adult dark-

morph Harlan’s Hawks,
such as this one, have non-
descript dark tails with
broad black tips. This indi-
vidual lacks mottling to the
upperwing coverts and has
boldly banded remiges.
Farmington Bay, Utah; December
2002. © Jerry Liguori.

505
 D A R K R E D - TA I L E D H AW K S

Fig. 16. Adult light- Western Red-tails, many adult dark-morph

morph Western Harlan’s lack banding to the remiges, in-
Red-tailed Hawks stead appearing “marbled” underneath.
with a strong ru-
fous wash to the
underside, such as Summary
on this individual, Although it is sometimes impossible to
can resemble inter- assign Western and Harlan’s Red-tailed
mediate-morph Hawks to subspecies in the field, ob-
birds, especially at
a distance. Tooele, servers can do so more accurately and
Utah; November 2000. more often by understanding the nu-
© Jerry Liguori. ances between the two. Observing spe-
cific plumage characteristics that sepa-
rate the races can be difficult, but Table
1 points out the traits that observers
need to focus on in order to classify
“dark” Red-tailed Hawks correctly.

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Vic Berardi, Sherry
Liguori, Brian Sullivan, Clay Sutton, Mark
Vekasy, and Brian Wheeler for reviewing
this article and making helpful comments.

Literature Cited
Clark, W.S., and B.K. Wheeler. 1997. A Photographic
Guide to North American Raptors. Academic Press,
San Diego.
Clark, W.S., and B.K. Wheeler. 2001. Hawks of North
America, second edition. Houghton Mifflin,
Boston.
Liguori, J. In press. Hawks From Every Angle. Princeton
University Press, Princeton.
Liguori, J. 2001. Pitfalls of classifying light-morph
Red-tailed Hawks to subspecies. Birding
33:436–446.
Wheeler, B.K. 2003. Raptors of Western North America.
Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Fig. 17. Intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed Hawks are variable in

plumage, and intergrades are known. This bird (a juvenile) is most likely
an intergrade between the light and intermediate morphs. Note the
faint streaks to the breast, the moderately marked underwing, and the
streaked throat. Wasatch Mountains, Utah; October 2002. © Jerry Liguori.

Fig. 18. This adult Western Red-tailed

Hawk is slightly paler overall than a
typical intermediate-morph bird and is
most likely an intergrade between the
light and intermediate morphs. Note
the distinct patagial bars and belly
band. Wells, Nevada; August 2002.
© Jerry Liguori.

506 BIRDING • OCTOBER 2004