One bird that may look similar to a white hawk is the Swainson’s Hawk. While it is not completely white, the light-morph Swainson’s Hawk does have some white features that can give it a resemblance to a white hawk.
The key distinguishing feature of the Swainson’s Hawk is its dark head, which extends down onto the breast. This dark coloration contrasts with the lighter body feathers, giving it a two-tone appearance. In comparison, White-tailed Hawks have a cleaner white color on the breast, without the dark head and breast markings seen in Swainson’s Hawks.
Another distinguishing feature is the wing pattern. Swainson’s Hawks have dark primary and secondary feathers, creating a broad two-tone pattern on the wings. In contrast, White-tailed Hawks have whiter underwings, especially the secondaries.
It’s important to note that these differences may not always be clear-cut, as individual birds can vary in plumage and coloration. Additionally, lighting conditions and distance can also affect how a bird appears. Therefore, it’s always best to observe multiple characteristics and features to accurately identify a bird.
In my personal experience, I have encountered Swainson’s Hawks and White-tailed Hawks while birdwatching. I remember one particular occasion when I saw a light-morph Swainson’s Hawk soaring in the sky. Its dark head and breast were clearly visible, contrasting with the lighter body feathers. The broad two-tone pattern on its wings was also noticeable as it glided through the air. This sighting helped me differentiate it from the White-tailed Hawks I had previously seen, which had a cleaner white appearance on the breast and whiter underwings.
To summarize, while there is no completely white hawk species, the Swainson’s Hawk, especially the light-morph individuals, can have white-like features due to their contrasting dark head and breast markings, as well as the two-tone wing pattern. However, it’s important to consider other factors such as lighting and distance to accurately identify a bird.