The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

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

Question 8 9 possible birds

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

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

Your observation 7 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 ? Broad dark band across the tip
    Change
  5. 5
    WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    Change
  6. 6
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    Change

Leading possibilities

9 possibilities remain

2 rules inferred
  1. 1

    Swainson's 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 ? Broad dark band across the tip
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    View profile
  2. 2

    Common Black-Hawk

    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 ? Broad dark band across the tip
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    View profile
  3. 3

    Harris' Hawk

    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 ? Broad dark band across the tip
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    View profile
  4. 4

    Northern Caracara

    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)
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? Broad dark band across the tip
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Southwestern United States
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    View profile
  5. 5

    White-tailed Hawk

    Matching variants: Immature, White-tailed Hawk

    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 PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Spotted or mottled
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    View profile

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