Makin’ babies. Or at least trying to.
Eight days ago I found the female rufous Red-tailed Hawk and her mate once again. This is the male with nesting material in his bill. I assumed he would deliver the stick to the nest but apparently he had other plans.
Instead he landed next to his mate on the side of a small mountain with the stick still in his bill. The behavior that followed made me wonder if the stick was intended as a nuptial gift.
After a few moments he dropped the stick (which is still falling near his feet) and took off…
toward his mate who is beginning to assume a mating posture.
The male landed on her upper back but…
both birds struggled to keep him up there and before the “cloacal kiss” could be completed…
he slipped off of her back to the ground.
I never could get good shots of the two of them together because he was largely hidden behind her.
Eventually the male took off and soon the female followed him. If this photo looks familiar it’s because I’ve posted it before.
I wasn’t particularly close to these birds and most of the photos were taken with my teleconverter removed so the images have been cropped significantly. But I’m always happy to document raptor behavior, especially when it involves mating.
Having this gorgeous rufous female as one of the participants was a welcome bonus.
Ron
Wow, what a moment to capture. Do you think that since she is probably already incubating that there was less urgency in the act? Hence her less than ideal posture possibly leading to his losing the moment?
Dave, I actually don’t think they were incubating yet. I know that’s late but neither one was on the nest for a long time and they were still carrying sticks to it.
They actually gave up on the old nest they started on this spring and took over another one so maybe that has delayed them.
Spectacular behavioral series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
There was no rose at the end of that twig, but it apparently got the intended reaction, albeit without consummation. Oh well, there are plenty more sticks where that came from.
Well said, Lyle.
Ron, so enjoyed this series of great photos. Your Red-tailed Hawks certainly are beautiful. In the 2nd to last photo she certainly looks like she is talking to you and saying “I dare you to say a word”. Thank you, Ron
She swore me to secrecy, Alice…
I really, really hope that he was (ultimately) successful (while wincing at the thought of talons sliding down my back). And that their babies survive and thrive.
I suspect he was successful after I left, EC.
These. Are. Great.
Thanks, Martha.
“A little privacy, please??!!” would be my caption for the second-to-last shot. 😉 I also love the first shot, but I don’t want to think about the BLT it took to get it. 😉
It did take some “T”, Marty. And yes, I paid for it.
“Hidden behind her” Her look is so funny to me.
🙂
The eight shot made me laugh out loud: She is saying “So, you got that shot, even though it was embarrassing!” “The poor guy at least he’s trying!”
Great shots, love the series.
He gave it his all, Dick. Thanks.
“Because he was largely hidden behind her” – I’ll say! She is a big girl! Great photo showing relative size of these beautiful birds.
Diane, part of that apparent size difference in that photo is because he was perched lower than her. But no question, he’s significantly smaller than she is.
“If at first you don’t succeed try try again.” I’m sure he soon got it right after you departed. Beautiful and educational series Ron. Because they are so common I think we often take Red-tail Hawks for granted, but when you see a series like this you are reminded of how beautiful they are.
Everett Sanborn Prescott AZ
I agree, Everett – “common” certainly doesn’t detract from any bird but this species in particular. Thanks.
OOPS! It is awkward under the best of circumstances and, for whatever reason, this wasn’t it! Hope he didn’t tear up her back in the failed attempt… 😉
Great shots of the process, Ron…… 🙂
Oops is right, Thanks, Judy.
So amazing to follow their behavior, Ron!! I feel for both of them since the attempt at mating is not in the easier area!! I’m sure they’ll succeed if they follow the saying – If you don’t at first succeed, try, try again!! Terrific series & maybe you’ll get another chance to capture a successful mating!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. I imagine they’re incubating by now so chances of me seeing another mating are slim.
I’m not sure if the look on her face was for you or just her thoughts about the ‘missed encounter’ but the message certainly got across! 😞 Just have to feel sorry for that poor fella. Great set of photos. He should find a better gift after this ‘faux pas’.
Kathy, in that second to last photo I think that look was for me because by then I’d moved a little closer to the birds and they were both keeping an eye on me.
It’s my theory that the mating failed because the female didn’t lean far enough forward so the angle of her back was too steep for him to stay up there easily. But who knows…