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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.
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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.
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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.
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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