Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

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Identification

51 cm (20") Rare. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, southern California. Wooded canyons and rivers.

All black hawk with white tail bands. Bright yellow legs.

In flight; suggests a Turkey Vulture with two-toned underwings and wings frequently held uplifted in a "V".

Details in the field

2 photos

Credit: Mark Watson

Watch and learn

1 video

Zone-tailed Hawks at Sycamore Creek, Arizona 15 Jun 2007

Credit: Bill Pranty

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 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 15 criteria confidence 1

Where was the white seen in flight ?: Mainly on the wings · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: In a shallow "V" · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: 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:429-zone-tailed-hawk:1:1 Source: 429 Zone-tailed Hawk, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: 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 ?: 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:429-zone-tailed-hawk:2:1 Source: 429 Zone-tailed Hawk, row 2