Visiting Hawk

[T&KBrouse]

Jake noticed this guy yesterday, sitting on top of our neighbor's swingset. Jake was probably within 10 feet of him and he just sat there, watching him!
Anyways. Just thought he was pretty and hawks are a good omen (unless you're a mouse) so here he is!

 

[blightedchemist]

How awesome! great pictures too! I love how they really dont spook that easily. Last fall on my way to work I found one on the side of the road in someones yard eating what looked to be a rabbit. I pulled the car over and took some pictures of that, I must have been within 7 feet in a running car and it didn't care. I love hawks!

 

[fallen_angel]

That is awesome!!

 

[T&KBrouse]

Thanks, guys.
And we have now discovered our beautiful hawk has an equally beautiful mate! So double the good fortune, I guess!

 

[paulnj]

Very cool ! Do you still have that first winter eastern race of the red-shouldered hawk winter down near you? Hawks are my forte

 

[T&KBrouse]

Okay, Paul. Ya gotta dumb that down for me.
What?

 

[paulnj]

That is a 6-7 month old juvenile plumage red-shouldered hawk from my area. All hawks(birds in general) migrate south in the winter and that's why it's there. It'll molt into adult plumage in the spring.

Red shouldered hawks have 3 subspecies... florida race(very light), california race(very colorful) and the eastern race which is in between color wise.

I studied raptor migration for a few years:main_thumbsup:

 

[T&KBrouse]

Really? Thats amazing!
So that "mate" thats here with it is more than likely a sibling, maybe?

 

[paulnj]

I would say it's a sibling, but they are not territorial on wintering grounds as much as breeding groundsl, so it could just be a friend.

Any time you'd like to talk birds or hawks, drop me an email:main_thumbsup:

 

[T&KBrouse]

Absolutely! I want to learn everything there is to know about raptors!
Is there any literature you might recommend?

Thank you, Paul! :main_thumbsup:

 

[paulnj]

I learned to ID them at hawkwatchs from experienced birders. I used "the sibley guide to birds" to ID all species and "hawks in flight" to learn hawks that fly over. Every bird has field marks that distinglish them from the others and that and calls are how you ID birds.

shhh 422 species of birds ID in the US over 3 years

And we all thought I just knew leopard geckos huh .... hahaha

 

[T&KBrouse]

You know, I would have never thought there were so many types of hawks.
What are field marks?

(Should this have been saved for a PM?)

 

[paulnj]

29 species of hawks including kites and falcons + 2 species of vulture, 2 species of eagles and the Condor..... 34. I have seen all but hook billed kite and prefer chasing neotropicals(warblers, vireos..). I was a paid wildlife photog a few years back, but got burnt out on it.

Breeding geckos and working keeps me from chasing wildlife too much anymore, but it's like ridng a bike.

field marks are... eye ring, chest banding, wing length, colors(and where), eye color, leg color.....

Gecko morphs and ball pythons all have "field marks " persay(though not in" the field") which help you ID the morph. Same with all avian species.

GARDENSTATEGECKOS(at)COMCAST(dot)NET if you'd like to keep it out of the thread, otherwise, I have no problem hijacking this thread with :main_laugh:you:main_laugh:

 

[rawson5084]

Nice pics I love hawks I like watching the red tail hawks around here

 

[T&KBrouse]

Thats what I thought field markers were, but I wasn't sure. Kinda like morph identifiers, then?
And, hey, I started the thread and its still about hawks, so I don't think it qualifies as "hijacking," does it?
So the hawk pictured is a juvenile. What are the markers that show its still young? By next spring, it will have its adult plummage? Will the adult feathers be different between male and female? Or will they look the same?

 

[paulnj]

streaked chest, dark overall appearance and I just know them from experience.

here's a good link with images for you
http://www.dpughphoto.com/red-shouldered_hawks.htm

They are variable in appearance throughout there range.

 

[T&KBrouse]

Oh wow... They are so beautiful! Simply breathtaking.

Thank you, Paul!