White-tailed Hawk

Buteo albicaudatus

Explore this bird

Identification

58 cm (23") Rare. Texas, Arizona, New Mexico. Grasslands.

Rusty shoulders contrast with otherwise dark back. White body and wing linings. White tail with broad black band near tip.

In flight; uptilts wings into a "V".

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: sfitzgerald

Credit: Ron Knight

Credit: Tom Benson

Watch and learn

2 videos

White-tailed Hawk with Young Chick Feeds Breakfast of Mouse

Credit: Richard Moore

White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus colonus) Venezuela

Credit: Iain Petrie

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 1

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · On the undertail coverts · On the head, neck, and/or tail · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:406-white-tailed-hawk:1:1 Source: 406 White-tailed Hawk, row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:406-white-tailed-hawk:2:1 Source: 406 White-tailed Hawk, row 2

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:407-white-tailed-hawk-immature:1:1 Source: 407 White-tailed Hawk (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:407-white-tailed-hawk-immature:2:1 Source: 407 White-tailed Hawk (Immature), row 2