The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

Describe what you saw. We’ll narrow the field together.

Question 10 10 possible birds

What SHAPE were the wings ?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

Pointed Rounded Unknown

Not completely sure? Choose Unknown when it is available—a careful “I don’t know” is more useful than a guess.

Your observation 9 answers recorded · open to review or change
  1. 1
    What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    Change
  2. 2
    How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    Change
  3. 3
    What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Dark and light bands across it
    Change
  5. 5
    WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    Change
  6. 6
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail)
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    Change
  8. 8
    What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ? Unknown
    Change
  9. 9
    How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    Change

Leading possibilities

10 possibilities remain

1 rule inferred
  1. 1

    Swainson's Hawk

    Matching variants: Dark Phase, Immature

    Why this matches 8 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Dark and light bands across it
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    • How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    View profile
  2. 2

    Northern Caracara

    Why this matches 7 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Dark and light bands across it
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    • How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    View profile
  3. 3

    White-tailed Hawk

    Why this matches 8 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Dark and light bands across it
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    • How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    View profile
  4. 4

    Red-tailed Hawk

    Matching variants: Dark Phase, Immature

    Why this matches 7 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Dark and light bands across it
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    • How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    View profile
  5. 5

    Bald Eagle

    Matching variants: Bald Eagle, Immature

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Hawk-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Goose-sized
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Black, purple, or dark
    • How was the bird SEEN BEST ? In flight
    View profile

Showing the strongest matches so far. Keep answering—the order may change.

Comparing your observations with 658 species in the Advisor knowledge base.

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