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Project Noah Nature School
Buteo jamaicensis harlani (Most Likely)
While standing on the ground, this hawk appears about two feet tall. During flight, it's wingspan appears 3-4 feet wide. It's plumage is dusty/red with white speckles being common.
This hawk was patrolling a wheat field while I was disc-ing the wheat stubble. I've observed this many times, that while working a field, hawks will circle above the tractor waiting for me to scare up some mice. The hawks are quit successful at picking off the displaced rodents. Red-tailed hawks dominate the skies during the day and live in trees wherever they occur on the plains.
I took these photos with my iPad and needed to get fairly close so that the picture was distinguishable. This hawk let me approach within 20 feet before taking to the air! They are beautiful in flight!
Spotted on Jul 3, 2012
Submitted on Jul 4, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks for the recommendation ChristyHolland!
Great spotting! I'd love you to add this spotting to the mission Raptors of North America: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8627...