Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk?

Thomas Stock (TSTOCK@FMSHRC.GOV)
Thu, 04 Mar 1999 10:57:46 -0500


While driving to Richmond via I-95 on business yesterday, I saw
an all dark buteo just south of the Dale City exit. It caught me 
by surprise, to say the least.  From some distance away, as I approached
it, I wondered to myself what a Black Vulture was doing in such a spot.
But as I got closer, it was obviously a buteo.  I went by the bird going
the speed limit, so wasn't able to get a good look at it, other than to
confirm it was a buteo.  Then I remembered all the reports of a dark
morph Red-tail from I-66.  Could this have been the same bird? I can't
imagine it would have been a dark morph Rough-legged, which 
I've never seen in this region - nor was it exactly Rough-legged
habitat.  Thanks in advance for any comments.

Tom Stock
tstock@fmshrc.gov