Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!midway!delphi!bob
From: bob@delphi.uchicago.edu (Robert S. Lewis, Jr.)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: red tailed hawk - subspecies thereof
Keywords: buzzards, hawks, birds of prey, genetics, species
Message-ID: <1990Aug15.155546.24047@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 15 Aug 90 15:55:46 GMT
References: <1990Aug14.130118.20027@newcastle.ac.uk> <399@sun13.scri.fsu.edu>
Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator)
Reply-To: bob@delphi.UUCP (Robert S. Lewis, Jr.)
Organization: University of Chicago
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In article <399@sun13.scri.fsu.edu> sandee@sun13.scri.fsu.edu (Daan Sandee) writes:
>In article <1990Aug14.130118.20027@newcastle.ac.uk> J.M.Spencer@newcastle.ac.uk (J.M. Spencer) writes:
>>I am researching the redtailed hawk _Buteo jamaicensis_.  
>>
>>My question is this, how many species of redtail are currently
>>recognised, and what are they called?  
>
>The modern taxonomic authority is the American Ornithological Union (AOU)
>"Check-list of the Birds of North America", 
>The Fifth Edition listed,
> B.j. borealis    - the archetypical Eastern Red-tail. Dark above, light
>                    below, belly-band, patagial marks, red tail in adult.
>                    This is the one I saw from my office window yesterday.
> B.j. calurus     - the common Western subspecies, very variable - reddish,
>                    light-colored, and very dark-colored morphs occur.
> B.j. krideri     - "Krider's Hawk", of the Plains states, very pale, often
>                    confused with Ferruginous Hawk
> B.j. alascensis  - Alaska
> B.j. umbrinus    - Central and South Florida
> B.j. fuertesi    - Mexican border
> B.(j.) harlani   - "Harlan's hawk", dark, nests in Alaska and British
>                    Columbia, winters in the Plains states.


Clark and Wheeler's Field Guide to Hawks only mentions six subspecies
(alascensis is missing).  They say, however, that North American
red-tails generally can be divided into seven types:

1. Medium brown birds, light below, with dark belly band and red tail:
this is typical of the Eastern and Florida subspecies.

2. Darker brown birds with red-tails, somewhat darker below than
typical eastern birds.  These are typical of the western race.

3. Very dark birds, nearly black or sooty on the back and  dark below with
red tails--typical dark morph of the Western race.

4.  Dark birds, generally very reddish overall.  Typical rufous morphs
of the western race.

5.  Dark brown above, nearly pure white below:  Fuertesi race.

6.  Very pale all over, with white or pale pinkish tail.  Krider's
form.

7.  Very dark, sooty birds with whitish tails.  Harlan's form.

I've listed these characteristics from memory, so there may be a few
innaccuracies. I encourage everyone to refer to Clark and Wheeler to
confirm the details.


Rob Lewis