Hawk Watching for the Truly Rare

Just a note on Leucistic Raptors -

While I (Cynthia) am compiling  the blogs about  our final stats for the season and  comparisons of those with previous years, Jimmy wanted to share some info on a report of a "White" Red-Tail to tn-bird. Some of you might have seen it.

We know Tarcila Fox as a hawk watcher, and respect her ability to discern what bird she saw. So we asked could we share her story. Thank you, Tarcila for permission to reprint your post and pictures!
 (I removed her addy to protect her from unwanted emails.)

 Jimmy wrote a discussion on what a white hawk actually is. Many of our readers may actually know, but some learners may find this an important bit of info. We feel it is certainly blog worthy and important to an overall study of Hawks.

Jimmy wanted me to add a note concerning the rarity of this bird.  Over the years we have recorded several dark morph or dark phase, or other forms of dark versions of raptors. This year we have 2.  We consider them some of our rarest sightings. We delight in being able to record them. But in the 24 years we have been counting, we can't remember anyone picking out a white or partially white individual from the 83,537 raptors we've counted. (*See note below about Krider's Red-tail.)

Recent reports have increased where birders have captured (on film) white raptors. These have been mostly seen in trees, on posts or coursing over fields. They stand out. The increase in reports are probably due to the optics and cameras able to capture them, and the ease of making reports on modern media. And of course, we often don't see kettles closely enough to pick out such individuals. But remember, we have picked out the dark ones. So, realize that these hawks are very rare.  We are so proud Tarcila was able to make a record of this bird.

In response to our request to use her report Tarcila said:

" I would be honored for you to use my pictures. I have others too, if you want to look through them all to see if they would be of benefit.

Thanks for the opportunity!"
&
about her pictures:
"I do not have one that is a front view with wings spread, but the first picture below has a pretty good view of the trace of a belly band. The second picture is the closest I have to seeing the front wing spread. ...Hugs"

First let me share Tarcila's post and pics with you, and then I'll post Jimmy's discussion. Look closely at Tarcila's info to see how she was able to ID this hawk:

"----- Original Message -----
From: Tarcila Fox
To: tn-bird@freelists.org

Sent: Tue, 29 Nov 2016 18:52:19 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: [TN-Bird] Leucistic Red-Tailed Hawk


A friend saw what she thought was a Snowy Owl. So this morning I traveled to the location on Lock Six Road in Hartsville,TN (Trousdale County) and found a very white Red-tailed Hawk. There are two red middle tail-feathers which were clear to be seen by binoculars, but not such a good in my pictures. There are also several dark brown feathers in the wings which, by eye, looked to be mirrored on the opposite wing. Also, if you can enlarge the last picture, it shows some traces of a belly band. When it flew away, some crows started mobbing it and I heard the distinctive Red-tailed cry.

Tarcila Fox, Goodlettsville, TN"

Tarcila could see the faint belly band from this view.

Tarcila's pics of the Red-Tailed Hawk with white feathering.
A tad of red shows in the tail.



The under-wing of the Red-tail showing the fore-wing with slightly brown feathers
which she said were mirrored on the other wing.

(When I wrote this post yesterday, I was having computer difficulties, so I didn't get to make a couple of comments about Tarcila's report.  She took a bird that might have been difficult to ID, and picked out or looked for the key things that would cause one to lean toward a certain conclusion.  In my experience, others, who aren't there, often will pick apart a report when the identification marks aren't clear.  When Tarcila had done all she could do, to not only ID this bird, she also took the best pictures she was able, and from as many angles as possible.  But what sealed the ID was her knowledge of it's call.  More than once, the call settles it.  I am so glad she was lucky enough to hear it call, so there could be no doubt, no questions, no debate.)  Thanks for the extra effort Tarcila!
____________________________________________

Jimmy's discussion of birds like Tarcila's:

 Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016

A friend of the hawk watch, Tarcila Fox, posted to our state bird list serve an experience where she saw a Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk.  The accompanying photo's Tarcilla took are astounding and  illustrate what she saw!

For my part, I will try and describe what a bird/hawk with Leucistic tendencies is.  Leucism, leukism and leucistic are all terms describing the same phenomenon. To start, the best way to pronounce this word that I have found is (lou-kiss-tick).

Leucism is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that somewhat prevents melanin pigment from being deposited into a birds feathers.  These birds don't have the classic plumage coloration that you can see in any of the field guides.  Instead, a leucistic bird, hawk in this case, presents an abnormal amount of white coloration over much of its body.  Most people, after viewing Tarcila's photo's, might comment that they are seeing an albino hawk.  NOT TRUE...albinism affects the whole hawk and would display All white featheration.  Some leucistic hawks can display only moderate white instead.  The hawk we have to show which is almost all white makes identification more difficult.  Albino hawks will have pinkish or red eyes, feet, legs and a pale bill which Tarcila's hawk does not have.

While either albino or leusistic hawks, make wonderful prized sightings for birders, they suffer from a greater threat to themselves than a normal plumaged hawk.  As examples these hawks loose their ability of camouflaged protection and may be more susceptible to predation.  Coloration plays an important part in mate selection and these hawks may not be as readily able to find healthier stronger mates.

When I first attended a Crane Festival at Hiwassee Refuge near Birchwood, Tn., over 20 years ago, a rare very white crane was spotted.  At the time I had never heard of leucism so I assumed we were seeing an albino Sandhill Crane.  To this day I don't know if that bird was albino or not.  It doesn't really matter.  What I do remember was how all the other cranes ostracized this one particular crane.  None of them would let it join their group, they continually pushed it away and would not let it eat nor would they let it approach the waters edge to drink.  If that white crane stayed with the group I don't see how it could have survived much longer.  I was reminded how we as children were not so accepting of other kids sometimes who were different. WHAT A MISTAKE...

This is hawk plumage study in a nut shell, when it's white.  I encourage you, the reader, to google these subjects for more detailed information.  As always when we sign off, we use the moniker:

"Keep Looking Up"
Jimmy W.


Edit note:
* Bill Haley emailed us saying he remembered one TV with enough white on it that it looked like paint had been splashed on it, but could remember no others.  He also felt that it might be mentionable, that Krider's Red-Tailed Hawks can be very light birds, nearing Leucistic lightness sometimes.  And we have had a few of those through the years.  Bill actually saw one this year, and reported it.  It was probably in an earlier post.  The one he saw actually had a tail so light that very little red was showing.  They also are considered RARE sightings, and it would be necessary to make a determination whether a very light to white Red-tail is Leucistic or merely a Krider's.  Purhaps, there would be an occasion that you could not determine that, just as there are occasions you could not discern between a Leucistic bird and an albino bird with out good pictures or visuals and notes on specific features.