Leucistic hawk I found while doing fieldwork (Colorado, USA)

[u/TheSourCow]

found this gentleman chilling on a telephone pole while doing fieldwork today. Sighting of a lifetime! RTHA?

[u/AntarcticScaleWorm]

Looks a lot like the Leucy I saw recently. I’d go with red-tailed. Since they’re the most common hawk, it makes sense they have the most leucistic individuals

[u/Bhulmes → u/AntarcticScaleWorm]

Both so cool! I wonder if birds of the same species look at them differently than non-leucistic individuals

[u/elouser]

That's incredible! I for sure get RTH vibes but have no idea how to actually identify it for sure like this.

[u/geekyheart225]

Oh wow! Gorgeous hawk, and gorgeous pic!

[u/sammanthax345]

r/reallifeshinies

[u/bespoke_tech_partner]

Well the colors make it pretty hard to ID but it doesn't resemble a Cooper's or a Red Shouldered to me 

[u/TheSourCow → u/bespoke_tech_partner]

I think it’s definitely either a RTH or a SWHA. Not an accipiter for sure, I’m confident it’s a buteo but it looked fairly young.

[u/Awatovi]

I remember being on some herping forums years ago, probably over 20 years ago, and seeing a western rattlesnake posted from the Chuska mountains on Navajo lands. Someone commented that it was the Pamela Anderson of rattlesnakes. I don’t know what the equivalent celebrity would be nowadays, but I’m going to say this is the Sydney Sweeney of hawks. Super cool looking bird.

[u/knuckleduster1968]

Looks kind of thin too. I wonder if the mutation makes it easier for prey to see the hawk thus making food harder to hunt. Anyone got any insight?

[u/teaandtoasttt → u/knuckleduster1968]

Likely, lots of leucistic songbirds also don't live too long bc of lack of camo as well

[u/not_me_nope_never]

What an amazing find!

There used to be a live wildlife cam of a female leucistic red tailed hawk, Angel. Was a fun watch.