Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Immature Swainson's Hawk

A beautiful young Swainson's Hawk watched me watching it.

 
Swainson's Hawks migrate 10,000 kms or so to winter in Argentina.  It takes them roughly two months to fly down there, averaging 200 kms a day.

 
During breeding season, eats mammals, birds, and reptiles. The rest of the year it eats insects, especially grasshoppers and dragonflies.

 
During 1995-96, heavy pesticide use in Argentina led to thousands of the deaths these hawks.


Swainson's Hawks gather in huge flocks to make the migratory flight - it is a stunning sight that I have been fortunate enough to see a couple of times.



Information Source:

All About Birds


1 comment:

  1. A beautiful bird indeed. I would love to see one sometime but they are quite rare here in Minnesota....

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