Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk

Description:

This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather before climbing a thermal updraft into the sky. Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks with typical Buteo proportions: very broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Large females seen from a distance might fool you into thinking you’re seeing an eagle. (Until an actual eagle comes along

Habitat:

The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of open country. Look for it along fields and perched on telephones poles, fenceposts, or trees standing alone or along edges of fields.

Notes:

I decided to put together a series of profile shots depicting this splendid Red-Tailed Hawk paying very close attention to his natural surroundings. He was very gracious in allowing me to get closer than I typically can do, so I took full advantage of the invitation and took several shots as seen below. I hope you like:) This shot was take at the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge in North Texas, USA on February 16, 2013. Equipment – Nikon D300 Camera with 150-500mm Adj Sigma Lens Weather: Bright Sunshine