What huge raptor?

14 years ago

It was in the "eagle tree"...a tall old cotton wood where I occasionally see a bald eagle perch, but it was a white breasted bird.

I just got back from Florida, so my camera was still packed.

It was easily the size of a bald eagle, pure white breast....darker head, squared off tail, not too have been found here before in very snowy winters ( and this sure is one!!!)...but it plainly had a smaller head and shoulders.

When it flew, the back and wings were mottled dark and light. It circled the yard once and headed north!

It looked like a red tailed hawk on steroids....and without any hint of a belly band. Easily 1/2 to 3 times the size or a redtailed hawk.

What could it have been?

I live in central Iowa about 15 miles from the dam on the Des Moines River.

Linda C

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Comments (6)

kendra2003
14 years ago
Could it have been an Osprey?
lindac
Original Author
14 years ago
When I saw your post, my frist thought was we don't have ospreys in Iowa....they live near the ocean or a bay.
Then I googled ospreys in Iowa....found there has been a program to re introduce them into suitable habitats and even if there seem to be no nesting pairs, they still are "passing through".
I believe you are right...that it was an ospry...narrower wings than an eagle and the striping on the back and underside of the wings.
But it sure was white....no hint of dark until it bent it's head down and preened and when it flew.
Thanks...I am blown away by the thought of an ospry in my back yard!!!!
I used to see them as a kid at the Jersey shore, nesting on about every 5th telephone pole.....but not in years and years!
Damn that DDT!!!
Linda C
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I know the pics don't give any idea as to size, but I appeared to be a good bit smalle than the red tails I've seen soaring, and didn't seem to glide or soar the same as the red tails do, if that makes sense, I was wondering if it could be a Mississippi kite? Also, there were three of them soaring around together,idk if that is helpful. I do see lots of red tails, their is a nesting pair Near my neighborhood and I see them both all the time, they are city hawks, lol, very well could be a red tail! Thanks
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gymell
14 years ago
There are lots of osprey in the midwest, tons here in the Twin Cities due to the Twin Cities Osprey Project. Glad to hear they're doing something similar in Iowa.

Here's a photo I got of one at one of the local nesting sites:
lindac
Original Author
14 years ago
That's why my doubt at it being an ospry...there was no brown of the wings showing from the front....just a huge white bird....huge!!
I might think that perhaps the dark wings were lost in the distance of the view....but that bird was very thick...wide. However not an owl.
I need to find out if there are osprey's at Red Rock dam.
craig76
12 years ago
You sure it wasn't a snowy owl? there's not a lot of birds bigger then a red tail hawk and then white. Other then an Osprey and white Herons.
lindac
Original Author
12 years ago
Not an owl head......

What huge raptor?

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What huge raptor?

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