WOW What kind of Hawk or Falcon is this?

[sparks19]

It was so cool.

We were just sitting there watching TV and I saw this shadow and then this figure sitting on the lines out front of the house. We opened the curtain and there he was. he was stunning. turns out he was after a freshly roadkill squirrel. He sat up there for a while and then swooped down onto the squirrel. When a car came by he decided to take off right in front of the car.... luckily they were able to slow down in time to not hit him but he ended up dropping the squirrel. then he sat across the street for a little while and these stupid crows wouldn't leave him alone lol. They kept swooping and diving at him. He seemed to not notice lol. Eventually he flew off into the big tree in the church parking lot and there were some ANGRY crows and blue Jays in that tree hahaha.

anyone know specifically what kind he is?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/sparks1919/IMGA0517-1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/sparks1919/IMGA0524.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/sparks1919/IMGA0525.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/sparks1919/IMGA0527.jpg

[columbine]

Oooo, looks like a goshawk! Gorgeous!

Love, Columbine

[sparks19]

Oooo, looks like a goshawk! Gorgeous!

Love, Columbine


I was thinking the same thing because I looked at some online pictures LOL but i wasn't sure about that.

It was really cool.

BTW, he did end up coming back to scoop up the squirrel lol.

[Argranade]

Seems like a Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk,

The body is much larger than a gosh hawk and the wings are more thick and short, a gosh hawk is a slim bird and the spots/stripes on ther chest are more together, and there heads are also smaller with longer legs.

Beautiful & R.I.P the squirrel lol.

Great pics =)

Oh and here is another photo of a Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/RTHA4.jpg

[critter crazy]

Seems like a Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk,

The body is much larger than a gosh hawk and the wings are more thick and short, a gosh hawk is a slim bird and the spots/stripes on ther chest are more together, and there heads are also smaller with longer legs.

Beautiful & R.I.P the squirrel lol.

Great pics =)

I have to agree, looks like a Juvinile Red tailed Hawk. Very common, we see tons of them areound here.

[Freedom]

Aren't they beautiful?

We get one now and then at the back yard feeder in the bad winter storms. :( Makes me feel badly, setting up all those small birds for "supper."

[sparks19]

Seems like a Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk,

The body is much larger than a gosh hawk and the wings are more thick and short, a gosh hawk is a slim bird and the spots/stripes on ther chest are more together, and there heads are also smaller with longer legs.

Beautiful & R.I.P the squirrel lol.

Great pics =)

Oh and here is another photo of a Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/RTHA4.jpg


Are they always that dark or can they be lighter?

He was a fairly light brown. how big do red tail hawks get? this guy was pretty big but I don't have a comparison for a full grown red tail.

[Chilli]

Gorgeous! =D
Hawks have to be one of my very favorite out of the wild birds. Between here and Missouri I always see a ton of them. Glad to hear he got an easy meal. ;)

[BCollie_Kelly]

Wow, what a gorgeous bird! :D

[critter crazy]

Here are some more Pics of Juvenile Red Tailed Hawks!

http://k41.pbase.com/o4/77/630577/1/61749596.jPVis3ea.RedtailedHawkjuvenile.jpg[/url]
http://k43.pbase.com/u5/ne_wildlife_photography/upload/37136422.juvredtailhawk.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/rstacy/%20images/pages/hawks/redtailed/2002/red-tailed_hawks_060202A03.jpg

Here is a Mature Adult!
http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/images/red-tail-hawk.gif

And here is some Info:
CLASS: Aves

ORDER: [url="http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/falconiformes.html"]Falconiformes (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://k41.pbase.com/o4/77/630577/1/61749596.jPVis3ea.RedtailedHawkjuvenile.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pbase.com/andywilson/image/61749596&h=600&w=799&sz=195&hl=en&start=12&tbnid=OoI_HzPWv-6KpM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJuvenile%2Bred%2Btailed%2BHawk%26gbv% 3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den)

FAMILY: Accipitridae

SubFamily: Buteoninae

GENUS & SPECIES: Buteo jamaicensis

CLASSIFICATION:

Falconiformes (http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/falconiformes.html) includes all hawks, and accipiter means hawk in Latin, as does buteo (well, an eagle is a hawk and a falcon is a hawk...). Jamaicensis refers to the site of the first discovery and identification of the Red-tail.

http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/images/map_northamerica_t.gifRANGE: Almost anywhere in North America

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

Length: 43-63.5cm

Height: wingspan - 109-143cm

Weight: Male - 880-1000 grams; female - 1250-1500 grams

Coloration: The usual color is a dark brown on the head and back, and rusty streaks or a rusty wash over the breast and belly, with dark spots on the tips of the upper belly feathers which, at a distance, give the bird a dark belly band (one of its main field identification traits) and a rusty "red" tail, which is gray and whitish from underneath.

Juveniles have a dark brown or black-banded tail, dorsally and ventrally. The tips of the primaries are black, but the bases are white or cream, giving the appearance of a translucent "window" in the wing tip (as compared with the large translucent window at the wrist of the Red Shouldered Hawk, another Buteo which looks very similar in flight.)

There is a wide range of color variation in the Red Tail and one can find specimens dark brown ventrally (with a black belly band), making a completely dark bird (easily confused with another Buteo, the Rough-legged Hawk) and, on the other end, a light brown dorsum with a cream head and belly (with small spots, so the belly band is still evident) and pink tail.

DIET:




Zoo: Bird of prey diet - 3 times a week. Birds are given meat on the bone or fresh kills on the regular keepers 2nd day off.

Wild: Small mammals, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish and insects. They kill rabbits, ground and tree squirrels, but also catch birds up to the size of prairie chickens. ADAPTATIONS:

Typical of all Buteos, the Red Tail is a master soarer and takes advantage of daily thermals in the summer months. In cooler weather, these birds must rely on perch hunting.

Like eagles and other hawks, the Buteos, including the Red-tail, have a boney ridge over the orbit that provides shade for the eyes while in direct sunlight, an adaptation similar to built-in baseball caps. The protruding brow ridge often makes them look perpetually angry. Other types of birds that spend much time in the sun have similar structures. Ostriches and other ratites have boney ridges also.

Another adaptation of the eye is the scleral ring. The eyeball is so large that it need internal support. The eyeballs of birds actually touch on the mid-line of the skull and all birds have the boney scleral ring to some degree. It is carried to extreme in the owl.

BEHAVIOR:

An extremely versatile raptor, it combines the characteristics of soaring and the rapid flight of accipiters. Like all Buteos, they are often seen perched on a prominance (rock, fence post or telephone pole) patiently watching for prey.

As with all raptors, pellets are regurgitated and food-habits studies are easily carried out.

BREEDING AND GROWTH:

Breeding season is from March to May. Nests are in small trees and bushes of Taiga, in shrubs in swamp hills of Florida and on old cactus stems in deserts of Mexico. It will choose cliff rock pockets or palms trees or large trees of a wooded area near its grassy feeding area, making use of almost any habitat within its range that contains appropriate food.

The male initiates the nest building. After courtship, the female builds with material brought by the male. These large hawks will use the same nest year after year, adding to it each season, but they will readily change nest sites or rebuild if necessary. Not to be pushed out of their territory easily, territorial claim-staking done by both of the pair with high circling and much calling over the nest area.

If there is enough food to support other hunters, they will allow other species in the area [I know of a canyon where a red-tail nest is within an acre of a Great-Horned Owl nest and a Spotted Owl nest...Burleigh] but they do not like other red-tails in the area. Human encroachment is tolerated to a point, but they may stoop and talon a human near their nest tree.

The nest is lined with fine roots, grasses and green twigs, making a nice cup. The female lays 2 to 5 eggs of the same type as the common buzzard [not vulture, remember]. Eggs measure 59.5 x 47.2 mm, about the same as a chicken egg.

Incubation is by the female, with the male providing and standing guard. Incubation is about 50 days and the nestling period lasts about 120 days. Fledges will stay with the parents, even returning with them to the nest area in spring, but are not allowed to remain in the nest area when the new season starts. Whenever they leave the parents, siblings often travel together for a time. Maturity, and the "red" tail come in the second to third year.

RELATED:

Bald Eagle (http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/baldEagle.html)
Bateleur Eagle (http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/bateleurEagle.html)
Cinereous Vulture (http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/cinereousVulture.html)
Harris Hawk (http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/harrisHawk.html)

Here is the Site (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/images/red-tail-hawk.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/redTailedHawk.html&h=337&w=342&sz=76&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=nPLPL1G1zWjMAM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRed%2Btailed%2BHawk%26gbv%3D2%26svnum %3D10%26hl%3Den)

[sparks19]

OH wow. Yep I would say that is probably what it is. That looks identical to the one that was outside today. COOL :D

[dab_20]

I agree^. It looks like a Juvinile Red Tailed Hawk.