Southern Alaska: Harlan's or Rough-Legged Hawk?

[DutchHerp]

Hi,

I spotted two hawks along the Glen away two days ago, and I'm having some IDing problems.

One of them clearly is a Red-Tailed Hawk

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7904-1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7905-1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7917-1.jpg

The other one, however, is odd. It looks like a Rough-Legged Hawk without the black tail band. However, if it is a Harlan's Hawk, it's oddly colored. This bird was continually carrying sticks to one particular rock, giving me the impression it's an adult bird making a nest.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7923-1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7928-1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l231/matthijs_94/DSC_7935-1.jpg

Later, Matt

[AaronL]

Hi Matt

Both birds are Harlan's Hawks, fairly common breeders on the Glenn Highway. Dark Harlan's often have unmarked, or nearly unmarked, white tails. Like your birds, many of them also show white heads and breasts giving a hooded look. Another telling mark is that the legs on the second bird appear to be unfeathered. You can see this on the photo of the perched bird; the photo is blurry but if they were feathered they wouldn't show up on the photo at all.

Thanks for sharing,
Aaron