Proud of my growing hawk

Redikilowatt

Redikilowatt

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Hawks have been in my neighborhood for 25+ years. I watched this one grow over several years. Early on she managed to crash a squirrels' nest to the ground but couldn't handle the squirrel. Now she is large enough to snag a squirrel. We have amply supply so I'm hoping to see a reduction in squirrel population!

She also tried to fly away with my wife's Prius and I gotta stop that.

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Completely understand the attraction and fascination... I have a little dog though, weighs all of eight pounds, see avatar, and for that reason the hawk would not be welcome around the place... the dog gets to run in the well fenced yard but hawks come down from above like a dive bomber. That hawk looks very healthy and has the cold piercing eyes of the predator. Now if no little dog I'd be making overtures of safe haven for the feathered Stuka.
 
Fabulous pix - we have hawks and the like all around our area - And I've seen eagles at Ft Belvoir near Springfield, VA.
And wild turkeys there too, but thats another discussion!
 
Redikilowatt said:
Hawks have been in my neighborhood for 25+ years. I watched this one grow over several years. Early on she managed to crash a squirrels' nest to the ground but couldn't handle the squirrel. Now she is large enough to snag a squirrel. We have amply supply so I'm hoping to see a reduction in squirrel population!

She also tried to fly away with my wife's Prius and I gotta stop that.

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Looks like a sharp-shinned hawk. We have a local Cooper's hawk who comes down to feed at my bird feeders..., and he ain't feedin' on the seed. :naughty:
 
Redikilowatt said:
Hawks have been in my neighborhood for 25+ years. I watched this one grow over several years. Early on she managed to crash a squirrels' nest to the ground but couldn't handle the squirrel. Now she is large enough to snag a squirrel. We have amply supply so I'm hoping to see a reduction in squirrel population!

She also tried to fly away with my wife's Prius and I gotta stop that.

View attachment 1820665 View attachment 1820666 View attachment 1820668
Click to expand...

A magnificent creation of nature.. :bowdown:
 
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Moved into town a year ago yesterday. There are ducks and geese in the storm drain ponds across from our house, but I miss the hawks and turkey vultures that hang around our old place. They learned after 34 years that most times when I walked out of my office with my shotgun, they were going to get fed. The place at one time was overrun with squirrels and cottontails. The birds would come out of nowhere and sit on top of the forklift mast and wait until I finished my "target practice".
 
Hmm, she is on the large size for a hawk? Although hawks have frequented my house for years I occasionally see eagles from nearby Lake Jordan and once identified a bald eagle in my driveway.

Perchance someone knows the correct identity of this raptor I would like to know. It’s surprisingly bold as I have gotten within 6-8 feet.
 
I kinda think it's a youngish red shouldered hawk. The youngsters have the spotted bellies. The adult I posted earlier is a full grown adult.

A red tail's tail really stands out when the sun hits it. Kind of a brick red. Red tails are pretty big birds. My brother kept one for a while. He worked with hawks and other birds of prey when he was in college.

Both are quite common in our region (I'm in Georgia).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-shouldered_hawk
 
What is bugging me is the beak.

The OP's bird has a solid grayish beak. Where my R-S has a spot of yellow on the beak near the skull.

Red Tails have this too and the younger (even much younger) R-S birds I have pictures of sport the yellow too.

So ... :dunno:
 
Said he's been watching her for years, so it is no juvenile. :no:

Sure looks like a sharp-shinned to me. You need to recognize that there is some variance across the country.

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