Soaring Silhouettes

Many large birds live in our area. Hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons and gulls can all be identified by their silhouettes while they are soaring. Characteristics to look for are overall size, wing shape, tail shape and the size of the head. Look for these birds in Lake County:

Ring-billed gull:

• Small with long pointed wings
• All gulls have a similar silhouette
• Very common

ring-billed gull silhouette

ring-billed gull

Bald eagle:

• Very large with very long wings
• Large head
• White head and tail can sometimes be seen in adults
• Wings held flat like a board
• Common

bald eagle silhouette

bald eagle silhouette

bald eagle (adult)

Red-tailed hawk:

• Large with long broad wings
• Fan-shaped tail
• Some other hawks have a similar silhouette
• Very common

red-tailed hawk silhouette

red-tailed hawk

Turkey vulture:

• Very large with long wings
• Wings held in a shallow "V" called a dihedral
• Tiny head
• Very common spring through fall

turkey vulture silhouette

turkey vulture silhouette

turkey vulture

Merlin (falcon):

• Small with long pointed wings
• Tail long and narrow
• Very fast in flight
• All falcons have a similar silhouette
• Uncommon

merlin silhouette

merlin