Flying Hawk

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Leah Rude on February 20, 2012 at 9:26am

Hopefully I will start the discussion with broad-winged hawk? I am not so good at flying hawks either.

Permalink Reply by Larry Meade on February 20, 2012 at 10:38am

What's your location?   They look like Red-shouldered Hawks to me.  You can see the translucent windows near the wing tips.  Also, Red-shouldered Hawks are very vocal. Do they sound sort of like Blue Jays, only louder?

Permalink Reply by Dwayne Biggar on February 20, 2012 at 11:18am

My first thought was Broad-winged as well, right markings and wing shape.  

But "screaming?" that throws me off. 

Permalink Reply by Veronica Knapp on February 20, 2012 at 12:35pm

Larry, Location is Northern Central New Jersey, right by the New York border. Could very well be Red-shouldered and they are very loud and vocal, repetative, alarm calls maybe??  Or maybe setting up a territory for nesting???  (YAY!) Here again today! They are obviously on a mission of some sort. Sound not quite like the blue-jay, somehow differant, but my first instinct was the sound of blue-jays protecting their nests.  Leah and Dwayne, I don't think or know if Broad-wings have returned here from there wintering area yet. I really think I better get to work on getting a new DSLR camera, or fix my old one! :)  Thanks for the help!

 

Permalink Reply by Larry Meade on February 20, 2012 at 1:06pm

Broad-winged hawks are not back yet.  I am almost certain that these are Red-shouldered.  Very cool to have them so active near you.  This is nesting time for them, so they may be setting up their territory.

Permalink Reply by Da Lo on February 20, 2012 at 5:28pm

Everything screams (literally) Red-shouldered Hawk to me.

1) Vocal and circling pair

2 Transluscent wing tips

3 Red shoulders visible

Permalink Reply by Veronica Knapp on February 20, 2012 at 6:22pm

Oh, you guy's are amazing! Red-shouldered it is! I sure hope they set up housekeeping. Can't you just see me at sunrise, in my pj's (I live in the woods) with my vanilla late flavored coffee and camera, freezing my butt off, but loving every minute of it???  Thank you all so very much!

Permalink Reply by Jenn on February 20, 2012 at 7:59pm

A little late on the reply, but my first thought was Red-shouldered.  (As a side note, I've never seen a Broad-winged for comparison, but I have seen my share of Red-shouldereds, some of which were a bit variable in plumage.)

Larry, your first reply makes me chuckle because I happen to have a resident Blue Jay that speaks very fluent Red-shouldered Hawk!  :D  That bird... more than once I have run outside with my camera to look for the raptor and found none other than a "screaming" Blue Jay looking for peanuts or frightening others away from them.  Smart jays... I love them!

Good luck with them, Veronica!  I would be doing the same, myself, so you'll get no judgement here! ;)