Every year there are at least a couple of these dark-plumed beauties hanging out northeast of Denver. This year I have struggled getting pics of them which annoys me. I did get some images of this one a few weeks ago. Light was low so the quality isn’t the greatest but I am still happy to have captured the pics.

These are my favorite hawks. They are very large and can be mistaken for an eagle at a distance. Their plumage is just gorgeous and that smile that they seem to have very cool. While they can be found here in Colorado year-round, they are most common during the winter months.

A Ferruginous Hawk last week not looking too thrilled about having its picture taken. 😉 The looks these hawks give are oftentimes just priceless. That ‘joker smile’ of theirs just gives them a unique look unlike any other raptor. Like raptors? Check out the 2018 calendar.

My favorite hawks for sure. I happened across this beautiful example north of Denver International Airport yesterday. It gave me some nice poses then a nice launch and flyby.

Ferruginous Hawks are very large and can be mistaken for an eagle at a distance. Their plumage is just gorgeous and that smile that they seem to have very cool. While they can be found here in Colorado year-round, they are most common during the winter months.

If you love raptors like I do, you might like my 2018 Raptors calendar. Everything from owls to hawks and falcons. Check it out here.

Winter means raptors on the plains of Colorado and their numbers have been steadily increasing over the last few weeks. Among the highlights, for me, are these cool hawks. While some stay here year-round, they are most common during the colder months. I absolutely love their look and they are usually relatively cooperative when it comes to taking pictures.

This particular one was flying low over a prairie dog colony recently, no doubt on the lookout for a meal. It gave me a nice flyby and this particular shot gives it a bit of menacing appearance, in part due to its closed inner eyelid. Many birds have what is called a nictitating membrane. This membrane wipes front to back every few seconds, cleaning the cornea. It is translucent and the hawk can actually see through it.

The fall chill that has recently hit Colorado has my mind wandering ahead to the coming winter and the types of wildlife that will soon be making appearances. Among those are these awesome raptors, the Ferruginous Hawk.

While they can be found here year-round, they are most common during the winter months. They are the largest buteos in North America and from a distance, their size and profile may have them mistaken for eagles.

Ferruginous Hawks are one of the most beautiful hawks you can every see but the dark morph variety here is somewhat rare and encounters with it that much more special. When sitting it appears to be entirely dark in color but when it spreads those wings, goodness, that is when it shines. The white under its wings contrast with the dark body and head and are absolutely gorgeous.

Fantastic Ferruginous in flight. There’s a few F’s for you. 😉

These are my favorite hawks. They are very large and can be mistaken for an eagle at a distance. Their plumage is just gorgeous and that smile that they seem to have very cool. While they can be found here in Colorado year-round, they are most common during the winter months.

This was one fun encounter to say the least. Ferruginous Hawks are quite common this time of year however the dark morph variety is relatively rare.

I was lucky enough to come across this one on the back roads of Adams County, Colorado. It was kind enough to let me get some nice pictures of it posing and best of all, when it launched, it went in the absolutely perfect direction allowing me to get a nice launch and flight series. Lots of fun with an absolutely gorgeous bird.

Scroll down to view the complete series of images from this encounter.

Fantastic Dark Morph Ferruginous Posing

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Fantastic Dark Morph Ferruginous Posing

Fantastic Dark Morph Ferruginous Posing

Fantastic Dark Morph Ferruginous Posing

Fantastic Dark Morph Ferruginous Posing

Judging by the look on this raptor’s face, it appears it didn’t care too much to have its picture taken. It also would appear that it had eaten not too long ago given the red around its mouth and face. Some very nice early morning light on it. These are my favorite hawks as their faces just show so much personality and it also helps that they are generally very tolerant of people. Of course given how large they are, they really don’t have too much to fear.

Watching a raptor do this is pretty darned amusing and I really don’t know how they don’t rip themselves open with those talons! This gorgeous Ferruginous Hawk was posing on a utility pole when the need to scratch became greater than its desire to keep an eye on me.

Ferruginous Hawks are the largest buteos in North America and from a distance, their size and profile may have them mistaken for eagles. While they can be found here in Colorado year-round, they are most common during the winter months.