Mystery Raptor at RBG

by Ted Kilgour
(Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Mystery Bird

Mystery Bird

This past Labor Day we were walking around the Hamilton RBG Arboretum when I spotted this wonderful bird land on top of a tree not too far from me.

I slowly walked up to the tree with my camera in hand and stopped and took a picture, moved forward.

Although he always had one eye one me I believe he stayed because he was more concerned with the flock of turkey vultures flying overhead.

When they got to close he took off, but not before I got some amazing pictures of him.

Can anyone identify this bird?

Thank you so much for sending this to us, your pictures are great.

Perhaps one of our expert birders will be able to give you a definite ID of this bird.

I will also post this on our facebook page.

Comments for Mystery Raptor at RBG

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starstarstarstarstar 		Red Shouldered Hawk
by: Anonymous

I believe this is a Red Shouldered Hawk. In the buteo family and has some characteristics of the Red Tail.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Re: RBG
by: Anonymous

It's still great you had seen this up close beautiful bird. If you like take a look at the post my neighborhood squirrel chaser, I posted this of a few Red Tailed Hawks, one even on the grass, and you may understand why I thought it was some other bird of prey because you will see the difference in the colors. Hope you see more and different species that's why I keep my eyes in the sky. Daniel.
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starstarstarstarstar 		You'rer welcome
by: Anonymous

No problem Ted, it's strange because I see Red Tailed Hawks all the time in my neighborhood and your picture just looked different and you are right the Merlin is very small in comparison to the Red Tailed Hawk as it is one of the largest Hawk species, the eyes and top of the neck just threw me off because the colors looked so different. I just love having all this beautiful wildlife in Toronto, Ontario and this beautiful country such a lovely sight in such a large city.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Reply to Daniel
by: Anonymous

Hello Daniel - thank you for your comment. What I saw was a very large bird and I read that the one you suggest is small. Also didn't see any black in any of my pictures. So you know I got an e-mail from a person that works for the RBG (Royal Botanical Gardens) and is known as a bird expert who agreed with the ones that said it is a Red Tailed Hawk. I wish it was yours or a Golden Eagle or a rare species for this area, but it seems that it is not

Regards Ted
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hamilton bird of prey.
by: Daniel

Hello Ted, I believe what you had possibly seen was a Merlin. They mostly inhabit B.C. Canada, but do sometimes come farther southeast. Look one up and I believe you may possibly agree this is what you had seen. Many birds species, not only birds of prey, pass through Ontario as their migration routes are along the way. Hope this helps you.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Red-Tailed Hawk
by: Judy

This is definitely a Red-Tailed Hawk...notice the tips of the tail feathers. Very pretty.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Swainson's Hawk
by: Anonymous

My 12-year old birder son informs me that it is likely a Swainson's Hawk. They are not common in Ontario, so this is a good find.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Reply
by: Marinus

Looks like a Cooper's Hawk.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Mystery Raptor at RBG
by: Alexis

This is a Red-tailed Hawk and is quite often seen on lamp posts and the top of trees along the highways. We had one for a number of years sleep in a tree on our front lawn in a residential area. Robins also slept in the same tree and would squawk for hours before settling down, but often the hawk would have enough and fly to a tree across the road to sleep in peace.

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