i was driving down the 91 frwy today near the Prado Dam and I got a glimpse of a bird above my car. At first glance it looked like a sea gull but taking a better look it was clear that it was a raptor. My first guess would be an osprey but their seems to be some differences in the wings. This birds wings seemed narrower and more pointed than what I remember but I haven’t seen all that many ospreys. I was able to get a good look at the color of his underside, it appeared white with random brown mottling all over the wings and belly. It was somewhat kite like in appearance but much larger. It looked bigger than a red tail hawk and the head was more eagle like but finer features.
Was it kind of “hovering” ? Flapping to kind of keep itself in the same position ? If so, it sounds like a “Kite”.
The bird was gliding in a straight line, reminded me of a harrier the way it flew but I had never seen one this light colored.
It’s notoriously hard to judge size of birds, especially birds in flight.
Additionally, this time of year, there are lots of juvenile raptors around which have different plumage from breeding adults.
I’d say it was red-tailed hawk, purely by probability. They’re the most commonly-seen raptor along roads, the underside of their wings is quite pale but with dark markings (especially the patagial markings and belly band).
I wouldn’t attempt to identify a raptor based on the description given.
What I am looking for is possible suggestions of birds I can look up. In the pics I have seen so far most of the wings appear to broad and not pointed enough. In some photos the ospreys wings look about right, others they look to broad.
The red tails are very common in my area and this birds wings were proportionately longer and narrower and tail was longer and not as wide.
I went back and checked out the red tail photos and from a color standpoint I saw several that would match my bird very closely. I am thinking the angle I viewed him might have distorted his silhouette. Red Tail is probably the bird.