Adult Female Broad Winged Hawk

by Janice Pariza

Title

Adult Female Broad Winged Hawk

Artist

Janice Pariza

Medium

Photograph - Photography Art

Description

A young female Hawk perches in a winter tree in Delta, Colorado.
The term "raptor" is generally used to describe a bird of prey. The three criteria that 'technically' define a raptor are: 1) excellent eyesight, 2) sharp talons for seizing prey, and 3) a hooked bill for tearing prey. There are 34 diurnal (active at day) species that can be seen regularly throughout North America (this includes vultures, which are not true "raptors"). Owls, which are primarily nocturnal (active at night), are raptors as well, and often thought of as the diurnal hawks' counterparts. Some people think of raptors as bloodthirsty hunters, but they are beautifully plumaged, graceful aerialists, and ultimate survivalists that only hunt out of necessity. Whether an intrepid enthusiast traveling the world to watch birds, or a casual observer who enjoys spotting birds on neighborhood strolls, seeing a hawk can enhance one's curiosity and appreciation for the natural world; even non-birders will stop in their tracks at the sight of a raptor!
Broad-winged Hawks are small buteos that breed in deciduous woodlands throughout North America, but are generally secretive. They are uncommon west of Minnesota, and nearly absent throughout the Great Plains. Dark-morph birds are only known to breed in western North America, and are presumed rare. Broad-winged Hawks hunt mainly reptiles and amphibians from a low perch below the forest canopy. They also eat mice, other small mammals, birds, and insects when available.

During migration, Broad-winged Hawks group together by the thousands, forming a tornado-like vortex known to hawk watchers as a 'kettle' or 'boil'. Sometimes there are so many in one group it's impossible to count, and estimating is the only option! To witness this phenomenon is one of the most thrilling events in hawk watching. Even experienced hawk watchers wonder how some Broad-wings don't run into each other as they tightly circle together by the thousands. Broad-winged Hawks are vocal mainly on the breeding grounds; their call is a high, thin, drawn-out two-part whistled "ps-eeeeee." Male and female Broad-winged Hawks are essentially equal in size.

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Uploaded

February 7th, 2017

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