Date: 3/25/25 4:17 pm From: richard s. cimino via groups.io <rscimino...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] [CALBIRDS] Potential SHORT-TAIlLED HAWK over San Francisco - 3/24/25
Dominik,
Thanks for the follow up on this topic.
Rich Cimino
From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Dominik Mosur via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 2:11 PM
To: <dominikmosur...>
Cc: Birds SF <sfbirds...>; <calbirds...>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] [CALBIRDS] Potential SHORT-TAIlLED HAWK over San Francisco - 3/24/25
Some follow up to the report of the Short-tailed Hawk.
I've received direct and second hand feedback regarding this bird.
Some are convinced this bird looks good for Short-tailed- HOWEVER - some equally experienced observers think the photos are better for a Red-tailed.
From Brian Sullivan : "I don't think it's a Short-tailed Hawk. Dark morph harlani, and its intergrades, are much more likely, and from what I can see in the photo, this bird checks all those boxes. The biggest key field mark for harlani, and its intergrades, is the 'dipped in mud' tail tip, with a smudgy, messy appearance that goes all the way to the tip of the tail. That kind of tail pattern is wrong for STHA, which has a much neater black subterminal band. Additionally, the wingtip pattern and formula are wrong for STHA, being more typical of RTHA, with slightly banded outer primaries and P9 being just shorter than P8. On STHA, P10 is very short, and P9 is much shorter than P8, creating a more pointed winged look in this posture."
any additional input is welcome and please don't hesitate to post publicly on the listserv for all to read.
Yesterday, a group of 7 birders gathered on hallowed Battery Godfrey at the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge to observe diurnal migration .
At approximately 11:30 a small/compact looking Dark Morph buteo flew over our position heading north in the direction of Marin County.
Many photos were taken and a lively discussion ensued. Some thought the bird looked good for an exceptionally early Broad-winged. Others were stymied as study of photos revealed marks inconsistent with that species and Brian Fitch half jokingly mentioned maybe it was a Short-tailed.
Since then a number of observers with experience in Latin American hawkwatch have opined privately that this bird appears to be Short-tailed Hawk. This would be a first state record and will be submitted to the CBRC shortly.
