Stephen Barnard has checked in from Idaho with some splendid bird pictures. His notes:
All Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), the most common hawk in North America by a long shot. They’re doing very well this season. The rodent population is abundant.
He sent 13 photos, so I’ll call this “Thirteen ways of looking at a hawk.”
Every one beautiful and crystal-sharp!
I think these birds are doing quite well. Sometime back while driving through the Flint Hills of Kansas, I don’t think a mile passed without seeing one or two of these sitting in the trees. Actually, mostly east of the Hills because there are very few trees in the Flint Hills.
Wow! Those are great!
I say this as a hawk fan – I think they’re doing well this season too – my pics stink compared to these!
Great…. (Robinson Jeffers would be as happy as Stevens!)
All very very good. My favorite of course is the one with the flying insect photobomb.
Hawks make the occasional appearance in Toronto – especially around backyard birdfeeders! I always assumed they were red-tails. But they’re only about big crow/small raven sized. Is that too small for a red-tail? Is sharp-shinned (or some other) the more likely species?
Probably a Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s. They prey on small birds. Red-tails don’t. It’s hard to tell Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s apart. http://www.audubon.org/news/a-beginners-guide-iding-coopers-and-sharp-shinned-hawks
Thanks. Cheers.
Really fabulous and very exciting to see these photos-
Thank you!
13 ways of looking at a camera
These are amazing.
Beautiful and healthy looking specimens.
Stephen, I love your photos. The raptors are my favorite. Thank you for sharing them with us.
I love how diverse red-tails are.