Juvenile Red-tailed hawk visits my garden
First, let’s identify the mystery hawk. Thank you all for your guesses, that was fun. The hawk is a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. I have to admit, I sent these photos off to a friend who is a hawk expert, Clay Sutton, co-author of the fabulous hawk ID book, Hawks in Flight because there were several things that made me doubt this is a Red-tail.
The obvious factor is that it does not have a red tail, but a banded tail; when it called it sounded more like a Broad-winged Hawk; it has a dark bill and feathered legs like a Rough-legged Hawk, and I was so wrong. I really thought this was a Rough-legged Hawk. So all of you who called it a Red-tail, congratulations! You were so right!
The trick in learning to identify birds is to spend a lot of time watching them, and your garden is a great place to do that. Juvenile birds often have different plumage than adult birds, which is part of the confusion with our mystery hawk here.
I sometimes spend hours perched on my deck, binoculars in hand, watching the birds in my garden. That is why I garden, because I love to watch the birds, butterflies, and other critters who have found a home in my garden.
Managing your property as an Ecosystem Garden brings many benefits, including visits from unexpected animals like hawks and owls. I’ve had both in my small Philadelphia garden, and it is definitely a thrill every time it happens.
To get hawks and owls you must go far beyond just putting out the bird feeders, but must create a whole ecosystem. This particular hawk was sitting in a tree above my neighbor’s Norway Maple brush pile, where many birds and animals find shelter.
What’s the most unusual bird you’ve had in your Ecosystem Garden? Do hawks find a place there? I’d love to hear about them.
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Can’t say which is the most unusual. I love ‘em ALL … and that’s the single thing that upsets me about having cats (that they chase birds). (I always laugh when BIG birds chase the cats even tho I’m afraid an owl or hawk or falcon will pick ‘em up!) Anyhoo, I guess my faves to see are the Pileated Woodpeckers. Also spent a whole day watching a Woodcock when we were first here. Never saw one again, and I don’t think a single second of that day was wasted!
Uh, the game was fun. Doit again! DOIT AGAIN! yay! yay!
I was very lucky not only to have this juvenile red-shouldered hawk come to my garden and perch on my fence, but to get this shot of it. It returned last week, but just for another quick fly-by.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimbrava/4086079670/
Yes, Mim, you are very lucky to have such a beautiful visitor to your garden! What a gorgeous shot. I’ve added you as a contact in Flickr, your photos are gorgeous!
It was nice of your hawk to perch on a fence and not 80 feet up in a tree like mine, but I always feel extremely blessed when such a visitor graces my garden, no matter where they sit.
Thanks for sharing your hawk with us.
I’ve added you as a contact on Flickr, too, though I don’t go “visiting” very much.
Thanks very much for your nice compliment.
Mim Eisenberg´s last post ..awaiting the next generation
That is a most amazing photo!! The hawk and the background … brilliant and stunning.
Carol´s last post ..December Near Full Moon Rising and Setting Opposite Our Sun
The only hawk I’ve seen in my garden is a red-tailed. It was a while ago – years – but I remember it clearly. The hawk swooped right down between two pine trees. I think it was after a small bird, but I think it left “empty handed”.
Red-tailed hawks are very common in my area.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..How Long Does It Take Birds to Find a Feeder?
Carole how lucky to see a young Red-tailed like that… Though they grow up here and I photograph them more full grown, I have never seen one so young. Wonderful shot! Carol
Carol´s last post ..December Near Full Moon Rising and Setting Opposite Our Sun