Short-Tailed Hawk

Buteo Brachyurus, Short - Tailed hawk

Buteo Brachyurus

Last Sunday as we sit on the hill overlooking our Orchard searching for new birds, we watched as a slate colored kite glided past the migratory fork-tailed flycatchers. Out of no where, a lofty flying buteo, much different from other raptors of the area came crashing into a machimango tree. I knew it was different just by the way it flew, similar to a northern harrier with lofty lazy wingbeats.

After a few moments it was gone but I managed to get this simple photo, sufficient enough to provide a solid identification.

I always prefer to identify through my camera, a picture is much better than a foggy memory.

Did it have a yellow cere?

Did it have a full face mask?

Were there feathers present up and down the legs?

Questions that do not need to be asked because I have a picture! That picture is worth a dozen birders with book and binos!