Ferruginous Hawk In Flight

The Ferruginous Hawk has been called “the largest, most powerful, and grandest of our buteos, a truly regal bird” –  an assessment I fully agree with.  The well deserved scientific name of this splendid hawk is Buteo regalis.

 

ferruginous hawk 1398 ron dudley

1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

But I sure do find them to be elusive and skittish (fitting for royalty, I guess…) and I have very few images of them that I like, especially in full flight.   This shot was taken in Utah’s west desert, near the base of the Stansbury Mountains.

I’ve made many long trips to the west desert and mountains with this species as my primary photographic quarry, only to return empty-handed.  Hopefully my track record  will soon improve.

Ron

Note:  I’ll be out of town for a few days this week with no computer access and a limited and unreliable cell phone signal so I’ll likely get any comments you may leave (via email) but I won’t be able to respond to them until I return.

4 Comments

  1. Charlotte Norton

    Fantastic shot! I guess every photographer has a nemesis. I think you habve overcome yours.
    Charlotte

  2. Patty Chadwick

    These beautiful birds are definitely high ranking members of the real “royals’ , but for me, the most royal of them all will always be the golden eagle. This magnificent, amazing shot is one of the most perfect examples of nature’s superior aerodynamics is one of the best I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much for sharing it with us all. You’re a real winner, Ron!

  3. Such a gorgeous bird. I prefer it to any of our human royal families. By a long way.

  4. Beautiful!! I agree, Regal suits this hawk!
    Excellent image!

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