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Buteo jamaicensis
Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a dark bar between shoulder and wrist. The tail is usually pale below and cinnamon-red above, though in young birds it’s brown and banded. “Dark-phase” birds are all chocolate-brown with a warm red tail. “Rufous-phase” birds are reddish-brown on the chest with a dark belly.
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. You’ll most likely see Red-tailed Hawks soaring in wide circles high over a field. When flapping, their wingbeats are heavy. In high winds they may face into the wind and hover without flapping, eyes fixed on the ground. They attack in a slow, controlled dive with legs outstretched – much different from a falcon’s stoop.
This beauty flew in front of my car & landed on a pole ahead of me. I pulled over & managed to get a couple of shots before the car behind hooted & it took flight again!
8 Comments
Thanks Dixie! It has been a bit of a standing joke for us because we see these guys regularly but they almost always take flight the moment I grab my camera! I guess I got lucky this time!
Thanks for your kind comments Ismael & Cindy!
Great job!
Cool shots Karen :)
I did! Thanks Carol! :)
Great! You finally got a hawk. :)
Thanks Melissa! I would have liked a chance to get a few more but usually these guys flew off as soon as I reach for my camera so I can't complain!
Your getting honked at was worth it because these are awesome photographs, Karen!