Previous ID Quizes

Watching raptors in the wild is different from studying photos posted on a webpage, but these exercises will help you to learn about plumage traits and field marks you can use later in the field.  Scroll down the page to see older quizes.



May-June 2010 Raptor ID Quiz


Mystery bird 1

Overall brown coloration, and extensive bare facial skin are characteristic of juvenile Phalcoboenus caracaras.  Of four species in this group, and although facial skin coloration varies between light gray, to dull pink, to bright yellow only the Carunculated Caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus), at all ages, shows a conspicuous bare spot behind each eye.  Note few darker coverts on the back indicating that body molt already begun on this individual.  (Photo by Sergio H. Seipke in Pichincha, Ecuador.  July 2009).


Two out of three answers submitted (66%) were correct to species level.  Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Santiago Castrilli (Argentina) submitted correct answers.



Mystery bird 2

Overall brown coloration, and extensive bare facial skin are characteristic of juvenile Phalcoboenus caracaras.  Juvenile and second-year Striated Caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) have massive beaks and primaries go only two-thirds down the tip of the tail.  The bird in the photo lacks the bare spot behind the eye which is diagnostic of Carunculated Caracaras (Ph. carunculatus, see Mystery bird 1).  Juveniles of White-throated (Ph. albogularis), and Mountain Caracara (Ph. megalopterus) look very much alike, but only Mountain Caracaras show curled feathers on the crown.  (Photo by Sergio H. Seipke in Mendoza, Argentina.  August 2009).


Three out of four answers submitted (75%) were correct to the species level.  Manuel Sánchez (Ecuador), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Santiago Castrilli (Argentina) submitted correct answers.


Thank you all for participating on our Raptor ID Quiz!  Please check out our current quiz here.



March-April 2010 Raptor ID Quiz


Mystery bird 1




























Marked pale eyebrows suggest a juvenile.  Relatively large head, stocky body suggest a Buteo.  Wing-tips go half-way down tail-tip and rule out (too long for) any Neotropical Accipiter.  Light (not dark) malar and relatively short primary projection rule out Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus).  Tail pattern is conspicuous but deceiving (shared with several Accipiters).  Combination of head pattern, heavily streaked chest, lightly barred belly, tail pattern and primary projection are typical of juvenile Roadside Hawk (Buteo [Rupornis] magnirostris).  Note light brown eyes characteristic of very young juveniles.  Sex of this individual is unknown (Photo by Darío H. Podestá in Alagoas, Brazil.  October 2007).


Five out of eight answers (62%) were correct to species level.  Sébastien Bertru (France), Marta Curti (USA), Santiago Castrilli (Argentina), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Cecilio Terife (Venezuela) submitted correct answers.



Mystery bird 2

Overall brown to dark brown above, white head and leading edge of wings (foremost lesser upper-wing coverts) and orange base of the bill are diagnostic of Black-and-white hawk Eagle (Spizastur [Spizaetus] melanoleucus).  Juvenile Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) lack white leading edge of wings, and tail bands (dark and light) are of similar width.  This individual shows P9-10, most tail feathers, as well as many feathers on the upper-side retained from the juvenal plumage, while P1-7, deck feathers (central tail feathers), mantle and back are new.  This bird was growing P8 (not seen on this photo) and should be considered an advanced immature (Juvenile molting into Adult).  Note that browner, juvenal tail feathers have more bands.  Sex of this individual is unknown.  (Photo by Sergio H. Seipke in São Paulo, Brazil.  December 2008).


Twelve out of 12 answers (100%) were correct to the species level.  Jorge Albuquerque (Brazil) Fernando Angulo (Perú), Santiago Castrilli (Argentina), Marta Curti (USA), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Môsar Lemos (Brazil), Daniela Martinez (Argentina), Roni Martinez (Belize), Juan Molina (Perú), Zoltan Nemeth (Hungary), Scott Olmstead (USA), Cecilio Terife (Venezuela).



January-February 2010 Raptor ID Quiz


Mystery bird 1

Longest primary is number 9 (p9) — this suggests a falcon, but a few kite species in South America also share this trait.  As Fernando Angulo (Perú), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), and Hans Peeters (USA) noted this birds has just begun molting primaries p4 and p5 (p6 is missing).  Kites, as all Accipitridae, begin primary molt on p1, thus this birds must be a falcon.  Black tail and uppertail coverts, with many narrow white bands, combined with a whitish trailing edge of wings are unique to adult Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis).  Also note a hint of the white eyebrow extending into the nape.  Gray-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus) has a much paler, and barred back, only 2-3 white bands on the tail, and lack the white eyebrow.  Three participants suggested this is a 2nd-year female molting into adult plumage.  Older primaries look browner, and yes, head may look probably relatively small for a male, but we will maintain a more conservative diagnosis and call this bird an adult of undetermined sex. (Photo by Darío H. Podestá, Santa Cruz, Argentina.  December 2009).


Fernando Angulo (Perú), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Bill Clark (USA), Julio Gallardo (Mexico), Marcelo Fernández (Argentina), Hans Peeters (USA), Ryan Phillips (USA), Roni Martínez (Belize), Juan María Raggio (Argentina) submitted correct answers.



Mystery bird 2

Two-toned upper-wings, ashy gray back, white upper-tail coverts, and plain deck (central tail) feathers on an otherwise barred tail are diagnostic of adult male Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus). Note rufous barring on flank, and growing primary 2 (p2) on left wing.  Females are browner above and show boldly barred upperside of flight feathers.  Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis, above) lack darker, deeply emarginated primaries contrasting with the upperside of the wings and back.  It also lacks white uppertail coverts. (Photo by Darío H. Podestá, Santa Cruz, Argentina.  December 2009).


Javier De Leonardis (Argentina), Matías Juhant (Slovenia), Bill Clark (USA), Julio Gallardo (Mexico), Hans Peeters (USA), Ryan Phillips (USA), Roni Martínez (Belize), Juan María Raggio (Argentina) submitted correct answers.



November-December 2009 Raptor ID Quiz


Mystery bird 1

Relatively large head, long, broad and pointed wings suggest a Buteo.  Very thinly batted tail rule out most other buteos occurring in the continent, and underbody pattern rule out Variable Hawk (B. polyosoma).  Dark throat but noticeable white breast patch are diagnostic of juvenile (first-year, basic I) light morph White-tailed Hawk (B. albicaudatus).  Unlike adults, juveniles can be fairly dark underneath, even light morph birds.  On dark morphs the light patch on the breast is tawny to dark brown.  Note lack of contrast between primaries and secondaries.  Tail can look fairly pinkish from underneath when the sun is above in this plumage. (Photo by Sergio H. Seipke, Calabozo, Venezuela.  February 2009).


Bill Clark (USA), Roni Martinez (Belize), Ryan Philips (USA), and Juan Raggio (Argentina) submitted correct answers.



Mystery bird 2


Relatively large head, and stocky body suggest a Buteo.  Single white band on tail and especially dark eyes rule out Roadside Hawk (B. magnirostris).  Coarse barring on upper half of underbody, streaked throat and dark malar stripes and primary projection indicate an adult Broad-winged Hawk (B. platypterus). The proximal white tail band is concealed by the undertail coverts.  Note: this species has been recorded in recent years along the Andes all the way to northwestern Argentina. (Photo by Sergio Seipke in Mérida, Venezuela. February 2009).


Bill Clark (USA), Ryan Philips (USA), and Juan Raggio (Argentina) submitted correct answers.



September-October 2009 Raptor ID Quiz


Mystery bird 1

Relatively large head, stocky body and wing/tail proportions indicate a Buteo.  Four notched primaries, a.k.a. “fingers” (and not 3) rule out Swainson’s Hawk (B. swainsoni) and Broad-winged Hawk (B. platypterus).  Note dark malar and throat stripes that rule out White-throated Hawk (B. albigula).  Many bands on tail and marking pattern rule out Short-tailed Hawk (B. brachyurus). Dark wing-tips contrasting with pale underwing, brown “chevrons” (arrow-heads) on flanks, and heavily marked chest are typical of juvenile (first-year, basic I) light morph Variable Hawk (B. polyosoma).  Note all primary feathers are one generation (no “molt waves”), and lack of darker subterminal band on tail.  (Photo by Sergio Seipke in Neuquén, Argentina.  April 2008).


Ryan Philips (USA), Juan Raggio (Argentina), and Piero Ravina (Peru) submitted correct answers.



Mystery bird 2


Once again proportions suggest a Buteo.  But just in case, note that longest primary is 7-8, and not 9, ruling out all falcons.  Plain, white throat, dark streaks arranged in two ill-defined clusters, one across the chest, the other across the belly, and heavily marked flanks are characteristic of White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula).  Buffy belly and underwing coverts, and serrated trailing edge of wings lacking a noticeable dark band are typical of juveniles.  Note that tail is longer than the base of the wings (rather unusual for a Buteo).  (Photo by Sergio Seipke in Neuquén, Argentina.  April 2008)


Ryan Philips (USA) posted a correct answer.