Bird I.D. ??

[Scottintexas]

Saw this guy in a cedar tree this morning

we live in Dallas about 1/4 mile from a large lake
I’d seen him once before but couldn’t get my phone out fast

I lent my Audubon book to a friend and couldn’t identify this guy via google



white head
Black eye markings
Black body

 

[zipper]

Guessing from the pics, but I would say White Bellied Sea Eagle or a pigeon, lol. How big was the wing span?

 

[Scottintexas]

Sorry I forgot the size
He was a big bird, I’ve seen hawks bigger
But guessing his body without tail was easily 12” if not 18
Easily twice as big as a pigeon

 

[Coult45]

the Merlin app thinks that’s a Mississippi Kite. Does this look like what you saw?

 

[Scottintexas]

My first thought was a kite but
His body was so solid black also his beak was muck bigger beak almost like a raven

maybe next time all get a better look at his stomach but I believe it was jet black also

 

[MilesPrower]

It's sized, shaped, and feathered like a crow, so my guess is that it's a white-headed leucistic crow. Its beak even looks like it's exhibiting uneven leucism.

Have you tried asking at BirdForum.net?

 

[Russell]

The Merlin app rocks! It's a must have on your cell phone. Just open the app and let it listen, it can identify what's in the area. It's very good on identifying birds of all types.

 

[BigN8]

Yep, Mississippi Kite. They moved into the golf course a few years ago and we see them constantly around holes 6-9. There are a few large Red Tail Hawks that moved in and live on similar holes. The Kit's seem to be multiplying because it seems I see more and more than before.

I was standing on #6 tee box a few weeks ago and saw a redtail flying through the trees with a squirrel hanging from it's talons. It was crazy. Never seen that before.

 

[MilesPrower]

I suppose it could be Mississippi Kite holding some kind of prey in its beak, so that the beak looks falsely longer than it is.

But if the bird that @Scottintexas saw was indeed 12'' in size — not including the tail — wouldn't that be too big for a Miss Kite?

Regardless — a beautiful bird, and fun trying to ID it!

 

[BigN8]

I suppose it could be Mississippi Kite holding some kind of prey in its beak, so that the beak looks falsely longer than it is.

But if the bird that @Scottintexas saw was indeed 12'' in size — not including the tail — wouldn't that be too big for a Miss Kite?

Regardless — a beautiful bird, and fun trying to ID it!

Remember...everything is bigger in Texas!