Red-tailed Hawk “Dancing” On Juniper Berries

I’ll admit that I’m often amused by unusual poses.

 

red-tailed hawk 2014 ron dudley

 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

Two days ago in Utah’s west desert I encountered this Red-tailed Hawk perched at the top of a juniper tree loaded with berries (they’re not really berries but that’s another story…). When it took off the hawk pushed off with only its right foot with its left leg and foot stuck out behind and to the side. The resulting pose with the wings out reminds me of some un-named dance move every time I look at the image. And that amuses me because to my eye it appears that the bird is attempting to balance in place on the tree on one foot as it uses its wings and left foot for stability.

Sometimes I’m easily amused.

Ron

33 Comments

  1. Enjoyed photo of code talkers…good, strong faces…glad (very) they were there, that your father made it and you’re here!!!

  2. Those berries are so abundant! I like this shot, Ron, like many that you take.Did you get this from your vehicle?

  3. What a cutie. I like the gleam in it’s eye.

  4. Well, I love the picture,because that is exactly the way I look and feel when I am trying to balance on one leg!! Ron, you got it perfectly! 🙂

  5. Ron, I’ve been looking at this picture on and off all day, and even though Kestrels are my favorite bird (along with Roadrunners), I think this may qualify as my all-time favorite of your photos. There’s just something about it that is irresistible to me.

  6. I’m far too chicken to attempt Navajo! A Navajo friend told me of a non-indian’s attempted to invite her to dinner (in “Navajo” supposedly)) and actually asked her to marry her, surprising the daylights out of both of them!
    Employing Navajo/Dine code talkers duting WW II was genius!!! We owe them big time….

  7. Add me to the easily amused list. ‘Small things for small minds?’
    And also easily awed. Love that pose and would certainly do a face plant if I attempted anything remotely like it…

  8. OK class … Eleve….developpe en arriere….attitude ….voila !

  9. actually, he is practicing the yoga pose know as the “tree pose”…

  10. Just plain beautiful!

  11. I guess I’m easily amused, too. The photo definitely made me smile, and it does look like the bird has perfected a balancing trick. And is proud of it. Thanks for bringing a much-needed smile to my morning.

  12. How great it must be to have wings!!! This beautiful, graceful creature obviously just made a perfect one-footed landing, probably practising for the winter Olympics professional skating competition…a sure winner!

    • “How great it must be to have wings!!!”

      Agreed, Patty. I sometimes dream about having the ability to fly (and yes, I know how Freud interpreted those kinds of dreams…)

  13. Ron, I like that dance move! It’s really neat when we capture a “less than perfect” pose from our bird friends. Keeps us coming back for more.

    (Sorry to have been absent for awhile. Life inserts little interruptions to our preferred pursuits.)

  14. It’s a little known fact that the Red-Tailed Hawk’s name in the language of the Navajo is Pi’untawe which means Juniper Berry Dancer.

    I’m totally making this up you know. 😀

  15. Lovely shot Ron!
    Charlotte

  16. Beautiful! Now all he needs is a tutu around his middle 🙂

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