Hawk in the Yard - Wildlife Gardeners

MrILoveTheAnts · 08-30-2009, 11:20 PM

Earlier last week I was typing away in the computer when suddenly out the window my eye caught sight of what I assumed was an enormous turkey flying into the oak outback. In rushing out to investigate I found what I think is a Red Tailed Hawk. He flapped about in the neighboring yards, flying down now and again to peck at worms or filed mice. One time when I took a picture he looked at right at me, apparently surprised by the flash. I would have taken a picture of this but didn't want to frighten it.

Equilibrium · 08-31-2009, 08:43 PM

I've run outside early morning in a t-shirt and underwear to try to take photos of things and I always come up empty handed. Doesn't stop me from trying. Looks like a red-tailed hawk to me. Neat visitor to your yard. What else do you get?

Sage · 08-31-2009, 09:11 PM

Doesn't look like a RTH to me. Smaller similar hawks are Cooper's and Sharp-shinned but not enough detail here to be sure.

MrILoveTheAnts · 08-31-2009, 09:47 PM

The back of the tail was a light brown color, darker than the wings and upper body. And it was big enough to find one of my adult cats as a meal. If that helps with the ID.

Other birds... this is about as exotic as it gets. Goldfinches and Chickadees are as pretty as they get. Not very special though.

Hedgerowe · 08-31-2009, 10:12 PM

So sorry about your cat, MrILoveTheAnts. I don't think that a Cooper's Hawk could take an adult cat.

Sage · 08-31-2009, 10:14 PM

omg! your cat! That's horrible!

Sage · 08-31-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Backyard Tips

You’re unlikely to see this bird in your backyard (unless yours is a big one). Red-tailed Hawks eat mostly mammals, so they’re less likely to visit a popular feeder than a Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned hawk is. It’s very rare for a Red-tailed Hawk to go after dogs or cats.

Found here: Red-tailed Hawk

MrILoveTheAnts · 08-31-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedgerowe

So sorry about your cat, MrILoveTheAnts. I don't think that a Cooper's Hawk could take an adult cat.

Oh no no! All our cats are fine. But we did immediately get them in the house once I saw the bird. I've seen similar hawks take out squirrels. Here are some pictures taken by my old camera a few years ago.

Sage · 08-31-2009, 11:27 PM

One of my best Red-tailed Hawk Flickr pages

Click above for the series.

Equilibrium · 09-01-2009, 12:10 AM

I recognize that one photo!!! That's somewhere here at our site. I love it. The breast streaking doesn't seem right for his bird to be a Coopers but... consider the source. I'm not too good on bird identification.

08-30-2009, 11:20 PM	#1
MrILoveTheAnts 1st Place Winner Winner Butterfly/Moth Contest & Official Ant Man Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey	Hawk in the Yard Earlier last week I was typing away in the computer when suddenly out the window my eye caught sight of what I assumed was an enormous turkey flying into the oak outback. In rushing out to investigate I found what I think is a Red Tailed Hawk. He flapped about in the neighboring yards, flying down now and again to peck at worms or filed mice. One time when I took a picture he looked at right at me, apparently surprised by the flash. I would have taken a picture of this but didn't want to frighten it. Attached Thumbnails __________________ MrILoveTheAnt's Blog, Ant Chat, & Native Plants for Honeybees Last edited by MrILoveTheAnts; 08-31-2009 at 12:35 AM. Reason: getting rid of *** which could be taken the wrong way.*

08-31-2009, 08:43 PM	#2
Equilibrium Official Plant Nerd Join Date: Dec 2008	I've run outside early morning in a t-shirt and underwear to try to take photos of things and I always come up empty handed. Doesn't stop me from trying. Looks like a red-tailed hawk to me. Neat visitor to your yard. What else do you get? __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

08-31-2009, 09:11 PM	#3
Sage POM Judge & Official Non Gardener Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, USA	Doesn't look like a RTH to me. Smaller similar hawks are Cooper's and Sharp-shinned but not enough detail here to be sure. __________________ *~Facebook~ ~Peregrine Place~ ~Flickr~ ~Instagram Pix~*

08-31-2009, 09:47 PM	#4
MrILoveTheAnts 1st Place Winner Winner Butterfly/Moth Contest & Official Ant Man Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey	The back of the tail was a light brown color, darker than the wings and upper body. And it was big enough to find one of my adult cats as a meal. If that helps with the ID. Other birds... this is about as exotic as it gets. Goldfinches and Chickadees are as pretty as they get. Not very special though. __________________ MrILoveTheAnt's Blog, Ant Chat, & Native Plants for Honeybees

08-31-2009, 10:14 PM	#6
Sage POM Judge & Official Non Gardener Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, USA	omg! your cat! That's horrible! __________________ *~Facebook~ ~Peregrine Place~ ~Flickr~ ~Instagram Pix~*

08-31-2009, 10:12 PM	#5
Hedgerowe Pope Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia	So sorry about your cat, MrILoveTheAnts. I don't think that a Cooper's Hawk could take an adult cat.

08-31-2009, 11:27 PM	#9
Sage POM Judge & Official Non Gardener Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, USA	One of my best Red-tailed Hawk Flickr pages Click above for the series. Attached Thumbnails __________________ *~Facebook~ ~Peregrine Place~ ~Flickr~ ~Instagram Pix~*

09-01-2009, 12:10 AM	#10
Equilibrium Official Plant Nerd Join Date: Dec 2008	I recognize that one photo!!! That's somewhere here at our site. I love it. The breast streaking doesn't seem right for his bird to be a Coopers but... consider the source. I'm not too good on bird identification. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

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