Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis harlani), Santa Cruz Flats, Pinal County, Pinal County

This Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk was discovered and photographed by Rick Wright on 25 October 2009 in Santa Cruz Flats driving N from Marana just N of the county line. 

The Harlan's subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk was formerly considered a separate species.  Although thought to be a perhaps regular winter visitor in Arizona, it is difficult to identify, rarely documented and its status is poorly known.

The blackish plumage with a lack of any brown tones and the white streaks on the upper breast are characteristic of Harlan's Hawk. 

25 October 2009, photo by Rick Wright

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