"The Misfits" ID

Question 1

Which of North America’s FOUR other raptor species don’t easily fit into any of the subgroups mentioned thus far and so are condensed into their own separate subgroup?

We’ll call this subgroup “The Misfits!”

Answer 1

1. Hook-billed Kite
2. Snail Kite
3. Northern Harrier
4. Crested Caracara

While “The Misfits” may not have other similarly-shaped brethren here in North America, they certainly do elsewhere in the world.

• The first two listed here are the broad-winged kites (unlike their slim-winged cousins), which have restricted ranges in the North America.
• The Northern Harrier is one of 16 species of harriers in the world so it might seem like a misfit in North America but it is a raptor that has a very recognizable shape and behavior.
• Similarly, the Crested Caracara is one of 9 species of caracaras in Central and South America. In North America, however, it stands out as quite unique.