IBRC #39-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Broad-winged Hawk
HOW MANY: 1, first-year light juvenile

REPORTER: Dave Faike 208-879-5291
REPORTER EMAIL: dfaike@yahoo.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Dave Faike

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 6/11/2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 6/11/2010

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Morgan Ck Rd; N44 37.947', W114 11.682'; approx 9 mi N of Challis, ID, Custer County.
HABITAT: Riparian
CONDITIONS: Spooked this bird from roost in cottonwood grove along Morgan Ck rd. Observed dark, crow-sized buteo with moderate width bands on tail fly through mid to upper half of canopy to another perch. Moved to vantage point and observed all brown head and yellow cere for 5 seconds before bird spooked and flew to an open perch approx 100 yds away in dead tree, facing me. Was able to observe tail banding and heavy brown splotching on off-white chest, general stocky compactness and relatively small size compared to abundant redtails in area. Bird sat erect on 1" size branch. Observation time was approx 2 minutes at this perch using 8x42 Elites. Bird flew to another 1" size perch and I was able to observe during flight that it was molting and missing primary feathers from both wings as well as a tail feather, giving it a ratty appearance. Weather was overcast with light breeze and approx 50 degrees. Time was 10 AM and sun wasn't visible. Colors were muted but visibility was great.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley and newest Peterson guide.

DESCRIPTION: Accipitridae, classic buteo. Dorsal view: all dark brown back, wings and banded tail (dark brown / black). Back was splotchy with black marks. Belly was off-white background totally covered by large arrowheand shaped dark brown splotches that pointed toward the tail. Vent was light. Hawk was compact, crow size, what I'd call stubby. It was molting and didn't maneuver especially fast as it flew throught the trees; more of a straight-line flyer with only a short, brief glide before it perched in a dead tree. It seemed to prefer to occupy the canopy about 1/3 down from tree top level. Legs and feet were nondescript and generally not visible from my viewing angle.
BEHAVIOR: Bird was alert and totally focused on avoiding an encounter with me. Unlike most other buteos, it acted spooky and was apprehensive and very unapproachable. I returned later with another individual to show this bird to them but it was considerably more windy and the we were unable to relocate the bird.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? I was specifically looking for redstarts, rose-breasted grosbeaks and broad-winged hawks at this locale. All are seen here, usually once or twice each spring. I was unaware of the buteo when it first flushed 100' or so away and flew by. Its size, flight jizz, behavior (staying within the tree canopy about 2/3s tree height alerted me to BW Hawk and the relatively broadly banded tail clinched it, even before I observed the breast. Tail length was not long as in accipiters, wings were short and "broad" and it flapped like a buteo. I was surprised to see that it was molting and even wondered, at first, if it had been injured. When I consulted Sibley at home I learned that juvenile BW hawks molt during May-June (age 10-12 months).
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? The only possibilites were accipiters and swainson's hawk. The accipiters fly fast, often dart back and forth when flying through a canopy, and have long tails, rapid wing beats and sometimes appear to have falcon shaped wings. When the perch they're usually bent over and don't sit erect. Swainson's hawks have yet to make an appearance at Challis this year. I bird everyday. Swha also has long wings and tail bands are narrow and fine compared to broad-wing. Besides, habitat and behavior for Swha is totally different.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I've seen this species numerous times, especially when living in the East. I'm very familiar with all accipiters and swainsons and spend a great deal of time photographing them.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Advanced (expert) birder with 50 years experience; 20 years guiding experience. I'm a serious birder and sole contributor to the 2010 Custer Co big year report. This sighting marks species #187 so far this year.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None