How about a little raptor readin' and writin' this fine Sunday morning? I've got a bunch of photos to share, so why not? Add your own and share what you have to say about raptors -- good, bad, odd, fascinating, scary, whatever. I hope our resident raptor expert, lineatus, is around this morning to join in and maybe answer questions you may have. And speaking of lineatus, let's start off with a photo of her namesake, Buteo lineatus, aka the Red-shouldered Hawk:
Join me below the orange bird's nest for more on these fabulous birds of prey, won't you?
Birds of prey, also known as raptors, hunt and feed on other animals. The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word rapere (meaning to seize or take by force). These birds are characterized by keen vision that allows them to detect prey during flight and powerful talons and beaks.
Many species of birds may be considered partly or exclusively predatory. Taken literally, the term "bird of prey" has a wide meaning that includes many birds that hunt and feed on animals and also birds that eat very small insects. In ornithology, the definition for "bird of prey" has a narrower meaning: birds that have very good eyesight for finding food, strong feet for holding food, and a strong curved beak for tearing flesh. Most birds of prey also have strong curved talons for catching or killing prey. Raptors generally prey on vertebrates, which are usually quite large relative to the size of the bird.
The most common raptor we all see on a fairly regular basis in North America is the Red-tailed Hawk.
Though the markings and hue vary, the basic appearance of the Red-tailed Hawk is consistent. Overall, this species is blocky and broad in shape, often appearing (and being) heavier than other Buteos of similar length. A whitish underbelly with a dark brown band across the belly, formed by horizontal streaks in feather patterning, is present in most color variations. The red tail, which gives this species its name, is brick-red above and light buff-orange below. The bill is short and dark, in the hooked shape characteristic of raptors, and the head can sometimes appear small in size against the thick body frame.
And here we have a baby . . . cute and deadly.
Also abundant in season where I live is the Northern Harrier, also known as the Marsh Hawk. Harriers hunt by surprising prey while flying low to the ground in open areas, as they drift low over fields. Harriers circle an area several times listening and looking for prey. They use hearing to find prey, as they have exceptionally good hearing thanks to their owl-like facial discs. The Northern Harrier is one of the easiest raptors to identify thanks to an easily seen white band across the rump.
Here's a good look at that round facial disc . . .
and a similarly good look at that white rump band . . .
Now what we have here the Swainson's Hawk, named after William Swainson, a British naturalist. Swainson's hawks inhabit North America mainly in the spring and summer and winters in South America.
The Swainson's hawk is probably the longest migrant of any North American raptor. The flight from its breeding ground to South American pampas can be as long as 14,000 miles. Each migration can last at least two months.They leave the breeding grounds from August to October. Fall migration begins each clear day on which a wind blows in the general direction of travel. Birds gain altitude by soaring in circles on rising thermals and then set their wings and close their tails as they glide, slowly losing altitude until they find another thermal and rise with it. Thus, waves and small groups are strung out across the sky.
Seeing this pair here in this photo, I would also note that research shows that Swainson's Hawks are monogamous. They have a high degree of mate and territorial fidelity.Touching.
Swainson's Hawks have suffered population declines since the first half of the twentieth century. It remains listed as a threatened species by the California Department of Fish and Game as it has been since 1983. I'm always happy when I see them and grateful. I'd never seen one before I moved to Sacramento about four years ago.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is my favorite Buteo and not just because lineatus is my friend. It's just such a gorgeous bird.
Its markings are spectacular. It occupies a place of its own in the world of birds of prey. Red-shouldered Hawks search for prey while perched on treetops or soaring over woodlands. When they sight prey, they kill it by dropping directly onto it from the air. They may cache food near their nests for later consumption. When in clearings, they sometimes fly low to surprise prey. Red-shouldered Hawks, like most raptors, have very sharp vision and reasonably good hearing, with talons capable of killing animals at least equal to their own size. Small mammals are typically the most important prey, especially rodents. Voles, gophers, mice, moles and chipmunks may locally be favored based on abundance.
Hiding in plain sight . . .
You can't see me . . .
Now for martyc35, let's look at her favorite bird, the Osprey. The Osprey, sometimes known as the Fish Eagle, is a fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 24 inches in length and 71 inches across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.
The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant. As its other common name suggests, the osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish.
Osprey nests are spectacular. Here is one photographed out by Pt. Reyes in California a few years back when a bunch of bird nerd Kossacks got together for an outing we'll never forget. You can just see mom's head in the nest from this photo taken right behind the guardrail on Hwy 1 in scenic Northern California.
Here are a few better and closer Osprey looks taken elsewhere in my locale . . .
And in case you've never had the opportunity to see an Osprey pooping, here you go . . .
Last but not least, a few photos of my favorite little raptor. Yes, I'm talking about the American Kestrel, my namesake, one of the most beautifully colored and most handsome birds anywhere. Kestrels are our smallest falcon and rather than describe them further, I'm just going to close this out with some of my favorite photos of this wary and easily-flushed little creature.
That's it. What's going on in your birding world this morning?