The species’ plumage can show a light morph, a dark morph, or a confusing array of intermediate plumages. In flight, it is identifiable by white underwing coverts, and dark flight feathers. Swainson's Hawks come in different color variations. Mid-March to March 30th is the highlight period of migration. Swainson's Hawks range in length from 18 to 22 inches, and have a wingspan of 48 to 52 inches. It was truly amazing to witness how fast paced and skilled the riders were. Swainson’s Hawk – light morph adult Light morph adults have dark flight feathers creating a broad, dark trailing edge to the wing. Also note the brown upper breast, creating a hooded appearance. Dark-morph Swainson's Hawks can vary from reddish-brown to uniform dark brown, but they usually have a rufous tone to the underwing coverts and pale undertail coverts, as shown here. This species was named after William Swainson, a British naturalist. Rio. The ferruginous hawk (ferruginous = from Latin ferrum – iron, ferrugin-, iron rust, iron-rust color – reddish-brown), Buteo regalis (Latin, royal hawk), is a large bird of prey and belongs to the broad-winged buteo hawks.An old colloquial name is ferrugineous rough-leg, due to its similarity to the closely related rough-legged hawk (B. lagopus).. With this being said, note that Swainson’s hawk’s diet includes rabbits and gophers as well as a variety of insects, like crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers. Light-morph Intermediate-morph Dark-morph (true dark-morphs' have dark underwing coverts) Light-morphs make up 80-90% of all Western Red-taileds. The Swainson’s Hawk is a very common summer resident of many western states and I hope these posts will assist in helping birders to not only enjoy Swainson’s Hawks more, but also help to add more details to sightings that you enter into eBird. There are dark morphs that are mostly dark brown and a unique intermediate morph like this one morph Rough-legged Hawk, as the tarsi werefeathered (Fig. Last week I was able to photograph several Swainson’s Hawks, some perched and others while in flight and of the flight photos I liked this photo the most because of the mountains in the … They build a stick nest in a … What to do if you find a baby or injured bird. Swainson’s Hawks, I later learned, retain their juvenile plumage until their third year, much as eagles do. range: Prairies and plains of Canada and n.cen. You may be lucky enough to come across a group of migrating Swainson’s Hawks. This prey-fooling mechanism works as long as one morph is abundant and the other relatively rare. Rio is a male Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) who joined our club in the summer of 2008 from Oaksdale, WA. Photos of multiple color morphs are found at the bottom of the page. There are dark morphs that are mostly dark brown and a unique intermediate morph like this one Although Swainson's Hawk is big enough to prey on rodents, snakes, and birds (and does so, while it is raising young), at most seasons it feeds heavily on large insects instead. Rough-legged Hawks in the winter and early part of the spring, go up north for the summer, and then return in the fall. Immature Swainson`s Hawk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Brought on by a few recent conversations, I thought I would post this note. Varies in color from rather pale with white belly to completely brown. To (username or email, comma-separated) Contacts (click to … 1., 3 and 4 are dark or dark intermediate morphs. They nest in large deciduous trees or junipers depending on availability, or on power poles. Swainson's hawk is a large bird species in the Accipitriformes order. Swainson's? In flight from below, note dark primaries and secondaries contrasting with whitish forewing of light morph. It is well known that Swainson's Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks migrate to Central and South America to spend the winter months. Swainson's Hawk intermediate morph adult mobbed by Western Kingbird (5) at Firebaugh, CA (07-18-2009) SWAINSON’S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) An immature intermediate morph was seen both perched and in the air on 28 Sep 2019 at Windham Airport Grassland in North Windham (2019-10 Phil Rusch*). Immatures lack the bib and are more strongly barred or streaked underneath. Swainson's Hawk: Large hawk with dark brown upperparts, white throat, rufous upper breast, and pale buff underparts. Intermediate colorations between light and dark morphs exist, and include a rufous morph. But, note: this bird has a very obvious red tail. We do not know his age as he came in as an adult already. Immature Swainson's Hawk. He has a left carpal fracture and was believed to have been shot as evidence by bullet fragments on his radiograph. Swainson's? 130 and 132) 19-21 in. Swainson's Hawks are birds of the West, nesting in open country habitats including Pinyon-juniper, Sagebrush grasslands, agricultural areas, and riparian corridors. Rare dark morph has uniformly dark brown upperparts and underparts with white throat patch. All the feedback was the same: juvenile intermediate morph Swainson’s Hawk. I take lots of photos of it perched and in flight and after much study decide it deserves the long name of “adult male intermediate morph Swainson’s Hawk, all rufous type.” Tomorrow we continue our trek north to Calgary for the start of the caravan to Northwest Territories. The hawk in question did not have any rufous or warm brown coloration characteristic of SWAINSON'S HAWK Common M155. An average weight for a male is 1.8 pounds, while the average for the female is almost 2.5 pounds. We do not know his age as he came in as an adult already. Details like the narrow banding in the tail, bare legs, and modest bill & gape all help to confirm the ID but the Swainson’s jizz was really distinct enough for the initial ID. Intermediate colorations between light and dark morphs exist, and include a rufous morph. Conservation 2011). Since this is variable it isn't an absolutely reliable field mark. But, not all Broad-winged and Swainson's make it that far south. Dark Morph Swainsons Hawk. Swainson's Hawk on the Glenn Hwy, 6/7 Sulli Gibson #590 . morph SWAINSON'S HAWK above moving in the direction of Bair Island. Swainson's Hawk, Light Morph: Swainson's Hawk, Intermediate Morph: Swainson's Hawk, Adult, Light-intermediate: comment | share Type your message and click Add Comment: It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Wings will have a scalloped pattern. Swainson's Hawk Figure 54. Light morphs, in my mind, have more room for variation, but I have still never seen a bird that looked intermediate in any strong fashion between light and rufous morphs. (48-53 cm). Swainson's Hawks are in high gear these days with breeding. Rare dark morph has uniformly dark brown upperparts and underparts with white throat patch. An intermediate-morph adult Harlan’s Hawk (Bu-teo jamaicensis harlani) was perched nearby. A pale prairie morph of Red-tailed, with whitish tail that may be tinged with pale rufous. Swainson's Hawks are birds of the West, nesting in open country habitats including Pinyon-juniper, Sagebrush grasslands, agricultural areas, and riparian corridors. Swainson’s Hawk in flight. Height: 19-25 inches This slim and graceful hawk is a common sight over grasslands of the Great Plains and the west, but only in summer: every autumn, most individuals migrate to southern South America. Same goes for Swainson's Hawk that shows the same continuum in plumage that Red-tailed Hawk shows.I absolutely don't mind or fault anyone for separating intermediate from dark-morph, why would I? Pale bluish white fading to dull white, usually lightly spotted with brown. Incubation is almost all by the female, about 34-35 days. Male brings food to female during incubation period. Young: Both parents bring food for young, but at first female may remain with young much of time while male hunts. We see many different Hawks in the Calgary area at various times of the year. General. The first four studies suggest a simple one-locus, two-allele autosomal inheritance pattern. There is a wide range of color morphs from very pale to very dark with an array of intermediate plumages. Immature Swainson's Hawk Figure 55. Swainson's Hawk. This morning, while near the pond behind the Nob Hill Market in Redwood Shores, I observed an adult intermediate. Swainson's hawk migration route. Small populations winter in southeastern Florida and along the Texas coast, probably having failed to find the way south around the Gulf of Mexico. Individuals reported north of these areas in winter (for example, on Christmas Bird Counts) are almost invariably misidentified buteos of other species. The Swainson's Hawk is a medium-sized raptor, overall similar in size to another common North American species, the Red-tailed Hawk. Minnehaha County, South Dakota . 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in. Still in disbelief, I sent photos to a hawk-watching group on Facebook, and then a hawk-ID group, and then texted them to Mike. March 31-57 Swainson's Hawks Discussion: After a virtual hawk drought, we had a wonderful evening event March 29. We see many different Hawks in the Calgary area at various times of the year. The white face and dark bib are useful features for identifying light and intermediate morphs. This post is the first of what will be a multi-part series about determining the age and color-type of the Swainson’s Hawk. Suddenly it really didn’t look like a Red-shouldered at all… it looked like a Swainson’s. Choo, ARPS April 2, 2011. "KRIDER'S" RED-TAILED HAWK Uncommon. Swainson’s Hawks have lovely two-toned plumage with the flight feathers darker than the wing linings (coverts). A Range of Swainson's Hawk Images. ... View of the underside of an intermediate adult, above; and an intermediate juvenile, below. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Was perched nearby for the vanguard of the season a left carpal and. Band, and white trailing edge the page with Red-tailed Hawks, I later learned, retain juvenile... 10S of 1000s of the page that far south in western North America is that they vary. As well as intermediate birds, all of which are quite beautiful bare branches, a! 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