Tag: dark morph
A Couple Of Hawks Separated By Species And Time
There’s no common theme here other than both birds being hawks so I guess this post is a mini-potpourri but I always think it’s interesting to compare raptor species.
Yesterday’s Swainson’s Hawks
Yesterday was a banner day for Swainson’s Hawks in northern Utah. They seemed to be everywhere on fence posts, power poles, trees and in the sky.
A Stunning Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk
I believe this bird to be the darkest dark morph Swainson’s Hawk I’ve ever encountered.
Mated Swainson’s Hawks Of Different Color Morphs
Perhaps there’s something nurturing for Swainson’s Hawks about this particular power pole.
Grebe With A Big Fish And Two First-of-season Bird Species – Yay!
Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk Screaming In Flight
I believe this dark morph Swainson’s Hawk was communicating with its mate as it screamed soon after take-off.
Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk In Flight
This dark morph Red-tailed Hawk in Montana’s Centennial Valley was the most cooperative raptor of the day yesterday and it truly did have the patience of Job with what must have been a very annoying Black-billed Magpie.
Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk In Flight
You have to get lucky to get good light on a raptor in flight when the sun’s high in the sky.
Red-tailed Hawk (and a new blog post, finally!)
I love the coloration of this bird and always appreciate getting wispy clouds mixed with blue sky in the background.
Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk Taking Off From A Hilltop
On the mornings when we leave Montana’s Centennial Valley the 27 miles of dirt road until we hit pavement are always a little depressing because we’re so reluctant to leave that wonderful place. But occasionally our melancholy is assuaged and our spirits lifted by birds and other wildlife we see on the way out.
Mating Swainson’s Hawks
Two days ago as I was photographing this dark morph Swainson’s Hawk on a power pole something completely unexpected happened and this time I was ready for it.
Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk In Flight
The dark morph color phase of the Rough-legged Hawk is a near-nemesis bird for me but two days ago I found one in Utah Valley.
Ferruginous Hawk Nests
This past summer I photographed several active Ferruginous Hawk nests and was impressed by their size differences and the variation in elevations of the nests from the ground. Each of these nests was photographed in southwest Montana in June of this year.
Ferruginous Hawks Hunting From Power Poles
Ferruginous Hawks are our largest and most powerful buteo but they’re also secretive, wary of humans and often roost on the ground so they can be difficult to locate.