I would like some help with this hawk
(http://picasaweb.google.com/mvalencic/UnknownHawk) seen and photographed
today east of Cleveland, OH.  It was taking off near our home and continued
to spiral upward as it slowly made its way to the north.  The sky was that
high-overcast condition that makes most things look like a silhouette.  It
did not make any calls while I was watching and photographing it.



The banded tail (note minor white band close to the body) and dark wings
(are they dark because of the background?) suggest a Zone-tailed Hawk or
possibly a Common Black Hawk (the minor white band closer to the body is not
shown by Sibley for the Black Hawk).



The wings are more like a Rough-legged ("relatively long-winged" according
to Sibley) or Zone-tailed than a Common Black Hawk ("extremely broad wings"
according to Sibley).  The Broad-winged Hawk has a banded tail but the wings
are supposed to have more white on the lower surface.



I'm not well versed in hawks but I gave it a good run (thank goodness for
Google).



My guess - mostly because of the normal range of these different hawks -
would be Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk.



Your thoughts????



Matt Valencic

Chagrin Falls, OH


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