Even Hawks have to scratch when they get an itch

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.