IWRC Raptor ID Series
 
Swainson's Hawk Characteristics
Adult
 

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
  

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
  

Photo by Sallie Reynolds

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
 
black bill with bluish base
dark brown irises
yellow cere
white mask
 
narrow dark bands on tail
wide subterminal band
wings nearly reach tip of tail

 
dark gray remiges on
underside of wing

3 emarginated primaries
             
Juvenile
 

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
  
(pic of juvie tail goes here)

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
(pic of juvie primaries goes here)
  dark malar mark extending to neck   wings nearly reach tip of tail  
pale underside of wing
with barring
3 emarginated primaries
             
Three phases
 
light phase

Photo by Sallie Reynolds
  
dark phase

Photo courtesy
Cascades Raptor Center
  
intermediate phase

Photo courtesy
Cascades Raptor Center
  bib
light underparts
dark grayish brown upperparts
white or tawny underwing coverts with dark gray remiges
   dark brown head
dark throat
dark grayish black body


   all rufous underparts or brown bib with rufous belly & legs
white coverts on underside of tail
underwing coverts can be white, tawny or rufous
  
             
 
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