Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

Red tailed hawk and bald eagle share a roost

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A red tailed hawk and a bald eagle hang out along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)
A red tailed hawk and a bald eagle hang out along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)

Not a particular great image in terms of composition or quality but one that I think is kind of fun – and educational.

It isn’t often you will see these two types of raptors hanging out together but I was lucky enough to see them on the way home from work one day last week. While the hawk gave a few dirty looks at the eagle, they were tolerant of each other.

This image is also does a nice job of showing the size difference between a red tailed hawk and a bald eagle. Bald eagles can be up to about 3 feet long and have a wingspan in excess of 6 feet. The smaller red tails top out at about 2 feet in length with a wingspan of 4 1/2 feet. Quite a difference!

Red-tailed Hawk gives a menacing look

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A Red-tailed Hawk casts a series look in part thanks to its nictitating membrane. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk casts a series look in part thanks to its nictitating membrane. (© Tony’s Takes)

Red-tailed Hawk gives a menacing look. This guy (or gal) looks a bit mean, eh? It was staking out Union Reservoir in Longmont this past weekend. This capture gives a nice look at 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.

Fun encounter with a pair of Harlan’s Hawks

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A Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk takes flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Harlan’s Red Tailed Hawk takes flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Well this was kind of a neat one. I went for a photo walk after work yesterday and as I was returning to my truck, I see the silhouette of a hawk in a tree. Assuming it was a run-of-the-mill red tail, I wasn’t particularly careful with my approach.

I wish I had been as when I got close, I realized it was a Harlan’s, a somewhat rare sub-species of the red tail. These raptors are notable for their dark plumage, far different from the more common red tail.

I managed a few shots of it as it took off, not particularly good ones though. As it moved off, much to my surprise, it went and joined a second one in circling the area. I’ll definitely be checking back to see if I can see this pair again and get better images.

Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

A Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk takes flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Harlan’s Red Tailed Hawk takes flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk in flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Harlan’s Red Tailed Hawk in flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch over its meal

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A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

It isn’t very often these raptors let you get close. However, when there is food involved, they are far more likely to tolerate a human. Such was the case with this beautiful specimen. It had caught some sort of small mammal, likely a rabbit or prairie dog, and was slowly enjoying the meal. With vultures and magpies just a few feet away, it knew if it left, its meal would be gone so it opted to hang around and continue to eat while keeping watch on the interlopers.

A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk guards an evening kill in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

 

Young Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch

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Red-tails are about the most common hawks on the plains but they also aren’t usually prone to hang around for pictures. Every now and then I come across one that is willing to pose and such was the case with this juvenile. It had staked out a nice tree to keep watch on a field, undoubtedly waiting for some poor rodent or snake to appear and become breakfast.

A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch near Union Reservoir in Longmont, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch near Union Reservoir in Longmont, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Red-winged Blackbird bully Red-tailed Hawk

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A fun little bit of action here. The Blackbirds had staked out a marshy area as their own and when the hawk decided to patrol overhead, the littler birds were not shy about chasing off the raptor. It was cool to watch as the Blackbirds chased and dived at the hawk.

I’ve seen small birds be aggressive in defending their homes against raptors, Kingbirds and Crows are infamous for this, but this was the first time I have seen Red-winged Blackbirds do it.

A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk is chased by Red-winged Blackbirds. (© Tony’s Takes)

Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk makes for a fun find

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Red-tailed Hawks are quite common but not the ones of this variety. I have seen this particular one hanging out along a back-country road northeast of my home a few times but have never had much luck getting a picture. Recently though, the raptor was kind enough to sit still just long enough for me to snap this capture.

Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents pigments from being properly embedded in feathers thus resulting in lighter than normal coloring. I’ve seen pictures of other hawks with the condition that were far whiter than this one.

A slightly leucistic Red-tailed Hawk in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A slightly leucistic Red-tailed Hawk in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Slideshow: Red-tailed Hawk devours a mouse

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A fun little slideshow of a very cool raptor enjoying a meal recently. This hawk had caught its prey in a field and then was kind enough to eat it – whole – right in front of me. Awesome! Taken in Weld County, Colorado.

Red-tailed Hawk makes off with a meal

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A very fun encounter with this raptor recently. Driving down a dirt road I see this Red-tailed Hawk dive down from a pole and clearly grab something. I come to a stop and it soon takes off with a mouse firmly in its talons. It circled around giving me a great flyby showing its meal then moved to a second and then a third pole before devouring its meal whole. Taken in Weld County, Colorado.

With its breakfast firmly in its talons, a Red-tailed Hawk takes flight in Weld County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
With its breakfast firmly in its talons, a Red-tailed Hawk takes flight in Weld County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Red-tailed Hawk stands guard

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The soft light of the rising sun and the dramatic fall skies in the background really make this one a personal favorite. This is Karma, a captive bird, used for falconry and education. When my son and I had the opportunity to photograph it at an organized photoshoot last year, we jumped at the chance. It was quite a show and allowed us to get up close and personal with this hawk.

Found across all of North America, Red-tailed Hawks are probably the most common hawk you will see. They are oftentimes perched on poles in rural areas but have adapted well to suburban and urban settings as well.

Image available for purchase here.

A Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch from its perch in Denver, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch from its perch in Denver, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)