Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus), Mt. Bigelow off of Catalina Hwy, Pima County

This bird was  discovered by Barb Koening, Joyce Lebowitz, and Sherry Kistler on 03 September 2009 and photographed by Judy Edison the same day. This is probably the same individual reported by Matt Brooks on 22 September 2009.

This is the first documented record of this species in the Catalina Mountains, although there is one previous sight report without details. Short-tailed Hawk has been expanding its range northward and increasing in Arizona for the last several years.  Other northerly records in the state include one on Pinal Mountain and one that has wintered for the last two years in Tucson. 

Small Hawk with solid white breast and throat, striped tail and diagnostic rufous semi-collar that does not intercept the white on the throat.

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03 September 2009, photo by Judy Edison

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