Identifying Raptors in Flight

Raptors in flight bring a sense of wonder and struggle to birders, especially when it comes to identifying them at a distance. Field marks are not enough when back-lit conditions and birds miles out lack any color. Flight ID has long been the best way to identify raptors at a distance, however books only take it so far. Join hawk watcher and photographer Josh Haas as he shares the principles of raptor ID featuring video clips from his movie “Hawks on the Wing” and explains why our local site, the Detroit River Hawk Watch, is a raptor migration mecca.
Josh Haas first developed a love for hawks working with the birds of prey at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. A hawk watching trip to Lake Erie Metropark opened his eyes to raptors in migration. Perplexed by seeing specks at a distance with an overwhelming itch to know what they were, he started learning from veteran hawk watchers and was hooked. He would end up spending seven Fall seasons working with the Detroit River Hawk Watch as a relief counter. There he honed his skills and developed a love for teaching visitors unique ways of telling the shadowy specks apart.
Presented via Zoom on September 16, 2020.

[@berachabirdingwildlifesafa6430]

Thank you for sharing. It's been difficult to identify raptors in flight. Your video is very informative with the best illustrations.
Now I have an idea😊

[@washtenawbirdandnaturealliance]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nelsonbriefer663]

A good video. Goshawks are a common species in East Texas, Tucson, Yuma, Apache Junction, Southern New Mexico and San Diego. NG can mimic Cooper’s wing beats. NG can have red vermiculation on chest , belly and under wing coverts. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes, Wa.

[@philphucas3663]

This is fantastic! Most of the views are probably me. 😂