Tag Archives: Red-tailed Hawk

One of my birding stops this morning was Bender Park on the south side of Milwaukee County. The highlight there was nice views of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk sitting a top a small oak tree hunting. The Red-tailed Hawks eyes caught or heard something a short distance off and it took to the air. Unfortunately I was not able to capture what it caught as it flew into some tall grass in a field close by. A beautiful morning out birding with full sun, mild temps early and low winds. Images were taken on August 31, 2018.

The Red-tailed Hawk, perched and hunting for something to eat…

A look back…

It sees or hears something…

Off it goes…going to hopefully capture something…

One of the highlights this morning along the lakefront in Milwaukee was watching a Red-tailed Hawk capture its prey, a vole and then consuming it. It was a cold morning with cloudy skies and some good winds but pretty good for this time of year. Images were taken at the Lake Express Ferry in Milwaukee Wisconsin on November 17, 2017.

At this point the Red-tailed Hawk spots the vole…

Going for the vole…

Taking the hair off, then breaks into the meat after the kill…

Removing hair and getting to the meat…

The Red-tailed Hawk is always looking around for predators as it eats…

Pulling apart the vole, out comes some of the guts……it drops the guts in the next image on the post…

Looking around as it eats…

Eating…

Looking around…

Eats that big piece with the hair on it…

This bird cleans the area of any left food it may have missed, lets nothing go to waste…

Still cleaning up the area …

Shaking off….

Then the poop!

Off to a new location for the next meal or to rest…

The highlight of the day birding was this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk soaring in the sky at Lakeshore State Park. Even though it was a beautiful day weather wise today, birding appeared to be slow, at least where I looked along the lakefront. A Great Black-backed Gull was the only other bird to note. Images were taken on February 27, 2016.

Red-tailed Hawk

Binomial name: Buteo jamaicensis

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Size: 19” long, 49” wing span

Weight: 2.4 lb

Checking out a few birding spots this morning I encountered the Red-tailed Hawk once again looking for prey and this time capturing it. The Red-tailed Hawk got a frog, chipmunk, and a very large insect while I observed from a distance. For the chipmunk, the Red-tailed Hawk sat in a tree near a fence. The chipmunk came out once and went right back into the tree trunk, knowing the hawk was present. The next time, a few minutes later the chipmunk came out the Red-tailed Hawk landed on it, spread it wings on the ground and held it down for a few minutes. The Red-tailed Hawk then flew off to a nearby tree and proceeded to have its meal. It does not always score but it had a good streak going while I was present. At one point it appeared to play with a piece of root, tossed it, pounced on it from 2 feet off the ground. Not sure what this was all about. Images were taken on July 29, 2015.

Warning: Some of the following images are graphic in nature and might be disturbing to some viewers.

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk with frog

Red-tailed Hawk waiting for the chipmunk!

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk, poor thing!

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk

Red-tailed Hawk with chipmunk

I observed the Red-tailed Hawk tossing around what looked like a piece of root, flying a couple feet off the ground and pouncing on it

I observed the Red-tailed Hawk tossing around what looked like a piece of root, flying a couple feet off the ground and pouncing on it

Flying up and then pouncing

flying up and pouncing

Just looking around

Flying up with root in talon and then pouncing on it

Flying up with root in talon and then pouncing on it

Just pouncing around

Just pouncing around

Not sure what this was all about, an old gopher hole, but I never see gophers here

Not sure what this was all about, an old gopher hole, but I never see gophers here

Ready to takeoff for the next event!

On a walk this morning I encountered an adult Red-tailed Hawk that was standing on and trying to hold down what I think was a snake. Though I never saw the actual snake, I could tell by the actions of the Red-tailed Hawk that is probably what it was, and the snake got away. These are a few images I took while observing from a distance. Images were taken on July 28, 2015.

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk holding down a snake

Red-tailed Hawk

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds above harassing the Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds above harassing the Red-tailed Hawk

I did some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning and there was nothing exciting to report in the places I stopped at. The Snowy Owl was still present at the Lake Express and located where it is typically hangs out at, the pipe. The highlight of the day for me was watching a pair of Red-tailed Hawks hunting at the Lake Express. As I watch one it eyed up its prey in a field and went for it. The prey won this time as I got back into its hole in the ground. Another observation I made today was a Red-tailed Hawk in a large puddle, could have been taking a bath which I must have missed. Minutes later it was up in the middle of a branched tree with it wings spread out dry them like a Double-crested Cormorant does. The sun shined for a whole 15 minutes today! With the mild temps and light winds it was nice to get out birding for a couple hours this morning. Images taken on December 23, 2014.

I see my prey!

It is here somewhere!

It got away!

Up looking for the next catch!

Doing a balancing act here with higher winds!