Two Red Shouldered hawks have been hunting in the backyard for the last few morings---they appear to be a parent and offspring. One is very large and the smaller hawk looks like a juvenile. Yesterday the parent sat patiently on the wooden bird feeder watching the youngster practice his hunting skills. Junior (below) caught a few small morsels, but I couldn't tell what they were.
Red Shouldered hawks are large birds, measuring from 17 to 24 inches high, with a wingspan of about 3 feet. Their back and wings are dark brown, with white barring. Their name comes from the rusty colored patches on top of their wings.
These regal birds of prey are year-round residents in the eastern half of the U.S. and California. They prefer woodlands and swampy areas around lakes, rivers and streams. Red Shouldered hawks usually hunt from low perches, dropping down to grab a frog, lizard, or snake. They also eat insects and small mammals, like rabbits, chipmunks, and voles.
Unfortunately hawks also eat birds. You can bet there wasn't a visitor to any of the bird feeders as long as these two were in the yard.
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