Krider's Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis "kriderii"), Sun Lakes , Maricopa County

This Krider's Red-tailed Hawk was found and photographed by Dale Clark on 19 November 2016

"Krider's" Red-tailed Hawk is variouly considered to be a localized pale form of B. j. "borealis" or it's own subspecies. It breeds in the northern Great Plains and winters mainly in eastern Texas and Louisiana.

In Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona 2nd edition, Monson and Phillips (1981) lists krider's as rare or casual in fall on the Mogollon Plateau, however there have been very few recent reports in the state and it is likely casual at best in the state.

From other subspecies this Krider's shows a very white head, with only a small amount of brown on the malar, crown and mainly on the nape. The very white underparts with streaked belly, barred flanks and a whitish undertail. This individual also shows extensive white mottling on the upperparts and distinct thin barring on the secondaries. Dale also notes "in views of this bird in flight, the patagial marks were very light."

19 November 2016, photo by Dale Clark