What Bird Is That Forum

A odd small kettle of mixed hawks came over this morning, two redtails, a Swainson's, two kites and two others I'm not sure about. Way up in the sun and hard to see but I tried.
Thinking Broad winged on this one?

Agree with Broad-winged.

stitch58 wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:02 am Agree with Broad-winged.

Well..... It seems that a Peregrine Falcon fits better upon further consideration.....?

Kevin wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:05 am

stitch58 wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:02 am Agree with Broad-winged.

Well..... It seems that a Peregrine Falcon fits better upon further consideration.....?

You mind if I lighten the exposure?

The facial markings look Falcon to me

Kansabirdguy wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:26 am The facial markings look Falcon to me

Yeah, couldn't make the markings out on my screen but increasing the magnification does seem like Falcon.

stitch58 wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:09 am

Kevin wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:05 am

stitch58 wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:02 am Agree with Broad-winged.

Well..... It seems that a Peregrine Falcon fits better upon further consideration.....?

You mind if I lighten the exposure?

Of course not. Anybody is free to do whatever they need to my photos.

I thought it was the wrong time of year for it to be a peregrine but it apparently is still possible for it to be in this plumage.

Kevin wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 1:02 am

stitch58 wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:09 am

Kevin wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 12:05 am

Well..... It seems that a Peregrine Falcon fits better upon further consideration.....?

You mind if I lighten the exposure?

Of course not. Anybody is free to do whatever they need to my photos.

It's okay, I agree with Peregrine. I was looking at a pretty small version &. the facial markings weren't really visible. The wings were throwing me too, didn't appear "pointy" enough for a Falcon.

This is a weird bird. I think it's a Broad-winged, though.

We get a lot of similar birds to this out in desert traps here in the west. They're 2nd-year Broad-wings that won't breed that season, but still migrate north anyway and end up getting lost. Here are a few birds similar to yours. Typically, they're molting the inner primaries, just like your bird is.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/637611085

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/238819061

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/458101411

Here's Kevin's pictures lightened up & magnified a bit.

Aidan B wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 4:49 pm We get a lot of similar birds to this out in desert traps here in the west. They're 2nd-year Broad-wings that won't breed that season, but still migrate north anyway and end up getting lost. Here are a few birds similar to yours. Typically, they're molting the inner primaries, just like your bird i

Interesting - the first photo example is a great match.
Agree with Broad-winged.

Thanks everybody!

Absolutely not a falcon. I like Broad-winged Hawk.