My husband and I took advantage of a sunny Saturday morning to walk a new trail that is within the city limits. On one side of the 4 km trail is a golf course, and on the other is the Grand River.
There is a 17 acre nature preserve for nesting birds, reptiles and amphibians. This hawk followed us for at least 3o minutes. I took numerous pictures and am so confused with trying to ID him or her.
The belly really doesn't match any picture in my books and trying to sort out immatures, male, female, dark phase, light phase.....oh dear, my head is aching.
Please help me!(I also saw an Eastern Phoebe today. Got a so-so picture, but I was pleased to see a new spring bird)
Thanks to Monarch and Larry for the ID!
Actually this type of hawk is called - jk, I know nothing...(LOL!!!!) :D
ReplyDeleteYou took a lot of good pics of it btw.
Wonderful shots and this hawk is called a "Red-tailed Hawk"!! It has a wonderful belly band on it which is one of its key identifying markers!! Great job and can't wait to see the phoebe photo!
ReplyDeleteIt has a belly band like a Red-tailed Hawk. Sounds like you went to a nice area.
ReplyDeleteMon@rch and Larry- thanks- My Birds of Ontario book had one photo of the back of the Red-tailed Hawk. I thought this hawk had a banded tail (2nd photo) which further confused me. I can see now that the belly band is the key to ID. I thought he was too big for a Cooper's Hawk.
ReplyDeleteBecka- I know less than you! I did't know jk meant just kidding. Your messaging short forms are like another language.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see the sunlight on his feathers.
ReplyDeleteCathy- It was so nice to see sunlight, a very rare item here lately!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteA day with a hawk is a good day.
I want to pat myself on the back as I did recognize the red-tailed right away because of your excellent photos. Hawks are SO HARD to ID. And you said the hawk was following you? They always fly AWAY from me... :o)
ReplyDeleteI love these hawks. Near me in Boston we have a lot of these hawks in the arboretum.
ReplyDelete