Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch over its meal

Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch over its meal

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)

 

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