Quiz: Identify Raptors in Flight
Test and hone your ID skills with this raptor puzzle.
Raptors are on the move. Now is a great time to get out and see the birds of prey as they migrate south for the winter (听for a list of 10 awesome places to watch the spectacle).
Seeing the birds on the wing is thrilling鈥攑articularly when there are large numbers of them鈥攂ut it can also be frustrating to try and identify them at various angles and distances.
The challenge:听Identify and听age听these common raptors. Some species appear more than once. Scroll down for a list of all of the species shown, and keep going for the answers.
HINT: Below are all听辞蹿听the species pictured.
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Cooper鈥檚 Hawk
Merlin
Northern Harrier
Osprey
Peregrine Falcon
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Turkey Vulture
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SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS
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1.听Sharp-shinned Hawk,听immature:听Note short, stocky wings and body, long slim tail that is short for an accipiter, and small head. Plumage is difficult to see on distant birds, but 1st-years lack a rufous tone underneath.
2.听Bald Eagle:听Very distinct white heads and tails and dark overall. Very large with long, broad wings and yellow legs and bill.
3.听American Kestrel:听Note pale underside with orangey chest, black spots on belly two black 鈥渟ideburns鈥 on head, and blue upperwing coverts, orange tail with black tip.
4.听Northern Harrier:听Very distinct brilliant white underside with a black border on flight feathers. Note long, slim wings and tail, and small head.
5.听American Kestrel:听Note pale underside with orangey chest, black spots on belly two black 鈥渟ideburns鈥 on head, and blue upperwing coverts, orange tail with black tip.
6.听:听Blackish overall; reddish head can be difficult to see at a distance but white bill usually glows. Note long, broad, squared-off wings, broad tail, and modified dihedral when gliding.
7.听Sharp-shinned Hawk, adult:听Note short, stocky wings and body, long slim tail that is short for an accipiter, and small head.
8.听,听immature:听Stocky pointed wings, large head, and short, narrow tail. Pale underside with dark streaking on sides of breast, and indistinct tail pattern with darker tip denote 1st-year. Some (like this bird) have streaks on belly similar to red-tailed.
9.听,听adult:听Note somewhat stocky squared-off wings with translucent 鈥渃ommas鈥 along the primaries. Adults have bold black and white bands on wings and tail and a warm reddish underside.
10.听,听immature: Note somewhat stocky squared-off wings with translucent 鈥渃ommas鈥 along the primaries. Pale underside with buffy underwing coverts, and dark, evenly spaced streaking on body denote 1st-year.
11.听Northern Harrier:听Very distinct brilliant white underside with a black border on flight feathers. Note long, slim wings and tail, and small head.
12.听, adult:听Merlin has stockier, more sharply pointed wings, broader, shorter tail, and is 鈥渃hesty鈥 compared with kestrel.听Juvenile and adult female are pale below with heavy, dark streaking, heavily 鈥渃heckered鈥 underwings, and distinct tail bands.听
13.听Northern Harrier, immature:听Pale underneath mostly brown flight feathers. Note long, narrow wings and tail (showing bands when spread). Head is small with owl-like facial disc.
14.听: Quintessential broad-winged, short-tailed buteo shape. Plumage is pale underneath with dark patagial bars and bellyband.听
15.听, immature: Pale underneath with dark streaks throughout underbody, and brown head denote 1st-year. Note long wings for an accipiter, large head, and long tail with white tip.
16.听, immature:听Pale underneath with dark streaks throughout underbody, and brown head denote 1st-year. Note long wings for an accipiter, large head, and long tail with white tip.
17.听,听adult: Pale underneath with heavily streaked body, heavily 鈥渃heckered鈥 underwings, and dark head. Note very long, pointed wings, heavy body, and broad tail and head. Wingtips are less sharply pointed in a full soar.
18.听: Note the dark stripe through the eye, long, dark brown wings, white underside, and a black bill with sharp hook.
19.听Sharp-shinned Hawk, adult:听Note short, stocky wings and body, long slim tail that is short for an accipiter, and small head.