The only mated pair of rufous Red-tailed Hawks I’ve ever photographed.
I spent much of yesterday working on a very large print order for a client that included a photo of a pair of rufous red-tails I photographed in Montana a few years ago. I spent a lot of time finding those particular shots because for some reason they weren’t linked in my organizational files and I have photos spread out over four different computers. For a while it felt like a treasure hunt where I’d end up skunked.
When I eventually located them I remembered how much I liked some of them so I decided to make those unusually red hawks the subject of today’s post.
1/640, f/9, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Over several years the mated pair eventually seemed almost like old friends of mine. I found them in the same group of trees in early summer for at least three consecutive years. The rufous coloration of both birds gave me confidence that they were the same hawks each year.
Females are larger than males but these two obviously bonded birds seem fairly close to the same size. But after checking out several other photos I have of them I believe the female’s on the right in this shot. As you’ll see in the following photos her belly is much lighter in color than the male’s belly but both birds are quite red overall.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Several times when I had them in my viewfinder I could tell by their behavior that some other bird was dive bombing them. But at first I couldn’t ID the attacker because I kept my eye glued to the viewfinder with my lens aimed at the hawks.
At one point because of the harassment (or for some other reason) the female on the right took off and landed in a conifer some distance away.
1/500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It was only at that point that I was able to positively ID their tormentor – an angry male American Kestrel. He buzzed her several times after she landed in the tree and she obviously wasn’t happy about it.
After at least three consecutive years of finding these hawks in the same area I never found them again in following years. I still wonder what became of them.
Ron
Love, Love, Love!! 😊
I’m imagining that this pair moved to a new neighborhood with more polite neighbors than the Kestrels. 😉 At least I hope so.
Watching a little Puppy Bowl right now. 😀
Could be, Marty.
👍
Love this pair that you have showcased so well. I especially like the interactions you have captured between these two. I am very guilty of trying to surmise what’s transpiring…at times facial expressions are there that seem to talk.
Thank you, Kathy.
Simply glorious. Completely and utterly gorgeous. The last photo shows clearly just how far above its weight the kestrel is punching too.
EC, I suspect kestrels would mob pterodactyls if we still had them around. And not give it a second thought.
Whew! Spectacular! Thanks for finding them.
Thank you, Kathryn.
Oh MY! Be still my heart! What a pair of BEAUTIES!! I’m a blithering fool for the dark morph redtails, over and above the regular redtails. Luckily, I’m not REAL fussy with them. I’m just a fool for redtails, period. LOL!
As falconry birds are concerned, we’re so very lucky to have redtails! They’re amazing birds and my hackles bristle when I hear them called “common” or the phrase, “just a redtail” happens.
As for the Kestrel attacks, Mariah (female redtail) has weathered their attacks frequently while she was still hunting. I have two poor quality images of her ignoring a pair of Kestrels. They’re bold, brave and amazingly relentless. Do NOT let their size fool you! In reality, they’re bigger than any two golden eagles mashed together! Trust me on this!!
Thank you so much for your persistence in finding these images. Evidently they happened before I found you, so this is an enormous treat! Your photography is similar to my redtail thing. I’m not real fussy. They’re ALL beautiful, all your nits aside 😉
I was hoping you’d see today’s post Laura, knowing how much you like red-tails. I agree, this pair is pretty special.
Beautiful couple. Often a sad feeling when you have become used to seeing a bird or a pair in a particular location over a long period of time, and then suddenly they are gone and you wonder why.
As we have so often discussed on your site – those cute cuddly little Kestrels can raise holy hell when they don’t like intruders in what they consider their territory.
Very good and interesting photos.
Everett, it really seemed lonesome in that area for about 3 years after they stopped showing up.
I HATE that when I “know” I have something and can’t find it……😖 Beautiful rufous coloring and amazing both have it…..😍 The Kestrel’s are nothing if not ballsy! 😄
We’re doing the sub-zero/windchill thing and will be for several days.😖 Time to hunker down. At least this time of year we know it can’t last forever……😉
Judy, it’s much too warm here today. We actually saw several Yellow-bellied Marmots out and about this morning – way too early for this time of year.
Perhaps these beautiful birds found a new territory away from that angry Kestrel! Wonderful shots!
Thanks, Donna.