I am not sure but these look like two birds of the same size. They appear to both be pigeons (pale underwings with dark outlines). This would be a common find in NYC. As for the likely raptor to take a pigeon midair- that would be a Peregrine Falcon. Neither of the birds in the photo are big enough to be a Peregrine. Looks like some pigeon dispute of sorts.

You had it right the first time! It is an Osprey. The facial markings are unique to this species. A White-tailed Kite is significantly smaller than an Osprey (15 in versus 23 in) and, whereas it has black around its eyes, does not have this heavy dark line over the eye and down the neck (as the Osprey has). Also, that long neck is Osprey (WTKI has a short stubby neck). The all dark wings leading down to a dark tail also differ from the WTKI. And look at the size of that bill! That is for eating fish (and the WTKI has a smaller hooked bill for insects and small mammals). I also see the Osprey's characteristic yellow iris here (WTKI has red). The slight markings on the chest of this Osprey indicate it may be a juvenile. That may be what looked different about it. Glad to have a raptor question to answer! It's been slow around here!

ok, i have waited this long because i couldn't narrow it down. my first love at a raptor dates back to kindergarten- the bald eagle. actually it is pretty "ironic": i can remember asking my mom for a quarter to "help save the bald eagles" i don't know if it was the teacher, or if it was the school, but i remember i needed to take it to class. so, here i was 30 years later, fighting development of plum island as a preserve for their winter and nesting sight. i am proof that educating children and raising their awareness works! now, on the other extreme, i just love the kestrel. this is strange for me because i am a "bigger the better" kind of person- irish wolfhound definitely preferred over a small dg, give me a horse- make it a "heavy horse" there is just something about the spirit of the bird being bigger than its size. i really think they have taht warrior spirit despite that apparant fragility i have heard of when kept captive. although i have never had experience with them. owl are just too tough to decide between. again, the raptors seem to win me over despite size- oh, that screech owl's song! a am partial to barn owls simply because ot the endangered/threatened status. i have never seen one! the great horned does win over the barred, but that doesn't make the barred any less "endearing." i do like the turkey vulture, too. so that about sums it up (love red tails in flight calls, they are always saying something) i ahven't gone in to many species. mostly i am trying to stick to the ones of my area. but, the harpy eagle, now there is a magnificent bird! anyone see jeff corwin with the harpy on his arm? it kept pecking his head. i say pecking because with that kind of strenght it was more like a love tap!

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. The massive legs are just mostly feathers. I can tell it's a Red-tailed because I can see the dark patagial markings (at the "shoulder" of the underwing) and the belly band (dark feathers that create a belt across the belly area). These in combination with a white chest are diagnostic for a typical Eastern Red-tailed Hawk. I can tell it's a juvenile because its iris is still yellowish (adults are dark). I cannot see its tail, but as a juvenile it likely was not red yet. Nice photo! This post was edited by TMFF on Fri, Nov 1, 13 at 11:12