© 2012 Michael Fiveson
I came upon this magnificent bird yesterday on a lightly traveled country road. Unfortunately he was standing on the road and did not move as I drove past him. When I stopped and approached him he flew just a few feet and stopped where I took this picture. I don’t know if he is young or hurt, and I left quickly so as to cause him as little stress as possible. My first sense is that this is a falcon, but he may be a hawk. Thoughts?
Mike's Look at Life 
I want to say Falcon, just because he doesn’t look like the hawkes around here. Beautiful bird either way.
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My thought as well but I googled many pictures and didn’t find an exact match.
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Hard to tell because of the coloring, but it could be a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk.
http://www.peregrinefund.org/subsites/explore-raptors-2001/hawks/swainson.html
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It is hard to tell and I tried for some time. Thank you for the response Emilio.
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I did some more looking . . . I’m fairly confident it’s a Swainson’s hawk.
http://www.falconphotos.com/Birds-of-Prey/Hawks/Swainsons-Hawks/7730045_2Rh4HX/490722056_c6sfU#!i=1854292194&k=DdkW3Lc
I have a hawk expert that I sometime consult. I’ll ask.
But there are only three hawks in this area; Harriers, Swainson’s and Red-Tailed. None of the falcons I looked at in any of the three books I have match the markings.
That said, who knows . . . angles and lighting of photos can make identification confusing.
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Yes, that is closer than I got. I’ll go with that and you win today’s prize…..all expense paid trip for two to beautiful Woodland Park, Colorado. Congratulations Emilo!
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That’s the Swainson’s Hawk, he’s probably stalking some rodent or snake. He doesn’t look hurt to me. Nice shot Mike. 🙂
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Nice!! I actually tried to find your email yesterday because I thought if anyone knew it would be you! Thanks my friend, and I’m glad he isn’t hurt and that he didn’t hurt me.
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this looks very similar to the Western Red-Footed Kestrel or Falcon we get in South Africa. It has similar markings on body and wings, as well as the yellow feet of the juvenile and teh beak and nose colouring is the same. Nice sighting!
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Thanks Basil!
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Red Tail hawks are very common in Michigan, but frankly I don’t know. I’d bet it’s a hawk. Smart looker!
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Aye, he was a fancy one at that.
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A FAWK, definitely a FAWK!’
I am sorry, you keep setting me up Mike! there is always someone who thinks they are a comedian; it just happens to be me…:)
J
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Well, you do crack me up. A fawk indeed. I shall try to continue to set you up, you sweet and funny girl.
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Aah, I may have one upped you! I have nominated you for The Sweet Blogging Award, yes, you!
🙂
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Thank you, eh.
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He is one beautiful bird just the same, whether a falcon or a hawk.
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He sure is! Thanks.
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Beautiful bird, Mike. Glad you were able to take this photo for us!
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Thank you Karen, he is a beauty.
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That’s a very handsome hawk. You were lucky to photograph him, nice one!
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Agreed. There he was, sitting on the road waiting for me.
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Can ‘t help you with the ornithology but it’s a nice capture Mike!
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Thank you very much. Truth be told, I love the photo.
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A hawkish falcon.
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Who was really a dove at heart.
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I was gonna’ let you say it. 🙂
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I am proud to be your fool George.
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😉
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He’s a beauty!
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I am proud to know him.
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Pretty bird but my guess is as good as everyone else!!
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Another thing you and I have in common.
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I’ve come late to the party, but I wouldn’t have done any better at ID. I’ll just go along with disperser’s guess. The young ones are usually the hardest to identify. But great catch there, Mike! Love it when the critters stop and pose for you.
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It was really quite weird that I could get that close to a bird like that. And you may arrive as late as you’d like
Gunta, just know it’s no party without you. And thank you.
Your picture from years ago……you know who you look like? Patty Hearst.
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OMG… not guilty! really!…. but definitely part of that same era…
We used to have a dining room window (huge) that birds used to crash into. Quite often they’d sit there dazed for a few minutes before taking off again. Once in awhile I’d get a chance for a shot I’d never be able to pull off under normal circumstances. Perhaps this guy crashed into something, or fell out of a nest?
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I was thinking fell out of the nest because it was under a tree and he flapped like a chicken and only flew 4 feet.
I believe that I too crashed into a window once and am still waiting to become UN-dazed.
I too am part that era Gunta and remember quite vividly that whole bizarre Patty Hearst episode.
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Before reading the comments, I think it’s a Pairie Falcon….It’s a fine photo… better than the photos in my ID books so it’s hard to tell.
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Those in the know are telling me a it’s a hawk. Whatever the heck it is it is real pretty.
Thank you.
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Well the Swainson’s Hawk has a dark band across the chest and a dark head. It doesn’t look like that to me. I am not sure what it is since I can only go by the word descriptions on some of these hawks and falcons… But around here we have so many Red-tails I can almost identifiy each bird by their patterns.
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I’d like it to be a falcon as I think that’s more sexy than a hawk.
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I agree that the range of the Prairie Falcon is a bit further west… But we have had some rather dramatic fires and weather patterns this year. I’d send your photo to the local bird-watchers and see what they say… Check out Audubon etc. Sometimes you can have a sighting of a rare bird in your area. I’m not saying that’s what it is, but it sure is interesting!
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I agree and I think I will pursue that. Some of the people who have commented seem to be in the know….
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Mike, I love the shot. It is a great one.
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Thank you my friend. Btw, I REALLY respect teachers 🙂
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Thank you Mike. I appreciate the respect I receive from authentic sources such as yourself.
Take care,
Ivon
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Whether falcon or hawk…it is beautiful and so sweet to pose for you!
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Yes, I was happy I got the shot, I just hope he stays well. I believe it is a hawk as pointed out by Disperser in this comment thread. The link he sent me was definitive. Avian, too, knows his birds.Thank you Daisy.
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Mike I’m not resident in the US but I recognise this as a light phase juvenile Swainson’s Hawk – Great photo!
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Yes, that is what I have come to believe as well based on feedback and images sent to me. I appreciate you taking the time to tell me that. How old do you figure he is and is it normal that he isn’t flying yet?
Thank you!
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I have been following a Cooper’s Hawk around for two weeks trying to get a photograph, and the darned thing is very elusive! I guess it’s time to dress in camo and just wait patiently for it to come to me. It’s a clever one… always escaping before I can get my camera ready! Nice photo Mike!
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It was a lucky photo for me. Just hope the hawk is ok.
Thanks Lori.
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Nice capture of the light colored head against the dark tree… nice bird shot, whatever it is!
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Thanks. I like the camouflage effect. All by accident but I’ll take it!
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I was thinking hawk as soon as I saw it too. I have never been able to get that close to one, although I don’t know if I would want to! They look pretty vicious! There is a great website for identifying birds in North America called http://www.whatbird.com/
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It is a Swainsons juvenile hawk as proved to me by links others have sent. It was amazing being that close to him and I got the sense he was not as impressed as I was 😉
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My .02 A female Harrier Hawk with young near by – hence the flutter/flapping to lead you away from her young?
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It appears to be too big to be a Peregrine Falcon which along with the Kestrel are the only two falcons in NA.
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It is as others have suggested a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk. One of the links from Disperser was a spot on match.
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Well that is certainly a possibility.
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My vote is for Cooper’s Hawk! http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/urban_hawks/2006/03/young_coopers_h.html
Great pic – thanks for sharing!
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I’m pretty sure it is a Swainson’s Hawk.
http://www.falconphotos.com/Birds-of-Prey/Hawks/Swainsons-Hawks/7730045_2Rh4HX/490722056_c6sfU#!i=1854292194&k=DdkW3Lc
Thank you!!
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So dignified looking.
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And regal as well.
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Definitely a hawk, & Swainson’s is the best call. A very cool bird. Not long ago I was in Hwange NP (Zimbabwe) & saw a similarly magnificient raptor, which my guide IDed as an immature martial eagle. He just stood in the road & let me take pics. But there was nothing wrong with him. My guess is just young & dumb.
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Well I got lucky with this young bird who in fact just hung out letting me take pictures. All very cool. Lucky me. Thanks!
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Oh he’s beautiful! My first instinct is a falcon too but I’ve never seen one that looked like this. I don’t know enough about hawks to say but he is definitely a beautiful bird of prey. Fabulous shot!
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Swainson’s Hawk, for sure. Thanks Cat.
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You’re welcome.
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Wasn’t sure if the bird was a falcon or a hawk, but the photo was great!
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Swainson’s juvenile hawk. Thank you!
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