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Hawk Identification
With so many hawks like Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks,
and Ferruginous Hawks gracing the skies of America, identification
can be difficult.
Regal and majestic, hawks are a common sight throughtout this country,
often from cars driving along country roads and highways.
Hawks can often be spotted sitting perfectly still perched atop
telephone poles, fences, posts, and telephone wires. These birds can sit
for very long periods of time in silence as they scan the surrounding fields
for rodents.
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Red-Tailed Hawks and other members of the hawk family are
extremely important to the ecology of the local environment, as they help
to keep down rodent populations. Often can be seen in the same areas and
sharing the same skies as vultures and kites.
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Get to Know Your Hawks
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Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 22 ½" - 25"
Suddenly, we saw him, perched atop a power pole, in the plainest of plain
view. "Ferruginous Hawk!", I exclaimed in awe, echoed by my husband.
Luckily, this road is next to empty, and we were able to slow down to a
stop to zone in on him for about half a minute before he took off. Read Article »
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Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | 17" - 24"
Northern Harriers seem to spend most of their time soaring just a few yards
above the ground. A look through your birdwatching binoculars will reveal an incredibly
graceful bird with a grey body, dark grey head, white wings and tail,
with black "fingers" at the wingtips. Read Article »
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Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 17" - 24"
If you see a vivid rust face and body combined with black and white striped
or checkered wing tips and tail, you are looking at a Red-shouldered Hawk.
I hope you have the opportunity to get up-close to a Red-shouldered Hawk at
some point in your birding career. Read Article »
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Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 19" - 25"
Unless you see an adult in flight, his hallmark red tail is often invisible.
Yes, if you see that crimson tail fanned out as a big hawk soars overhead,
chances are you’ve identified the Red-tailed Hawk, but it’s usually not
that simple. Read Article »
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Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | 16"
When I saw the Cooper’s Hawk this week, I was immediately struck by what a slender
overall shape he had. I’d never seen such a slim-looking raptor before. His
amazingly long tail only adds to his streamlined appearance. The tail-length is
something that really stands out about this interesting bird - no other local hawk
has such a long one. Read Article »
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- Read the Latest News from the Birding Sonoma County Blog -
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Tomales Bay State Park Closure - One Upset Birder
January 22, 2008, Point Reyes, CA
Governor Schwarzenegger is planning to close our beautiful, sacred Tomales Bay State Park
in Marin County along with 42 other desperately-needed and exuberantly cherished state
parks throughout California. Closing all of these wonderful parks would not even take us
1% in the direction of being back in the black. And think of what will have been lost. Read Article »
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Bay Area Oil Spill A Disaster For Birds
November 11, 2007, Kenwood, CA
When the Cosco Busan crashed into the Bay Bridge, every birder I know immediately thought
of what this disaster would mean for the birds. In addition to our beloved birds, whales
will be swimming through the oil, as will seals, sea lions and other marine mammals. West
Marin is one of my favorite places on earth, and to see it thus spoiled fills me with
sorrow and anger. Read Article »
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Bewick's Wren - A hidden Bay Area bird worth seeking!
October 7, 2007, Glen Ellen, CA
Today, we'll turn our gaze on Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewickii, one of the larger
SF Bay Area Wrens. Bewick's Wren, like most wrens, will instantly strike you as being
'all-tail'. Identification clue number one for wrens is that they tend to hold their tails
up-turned, as if in proud of their lovely plumes. Read Article »
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The White-crowned Sparrow has returned!
September 24, 2007, Kenwood, CA
This trusty little bird disappeared when the weather heated up, early in the year, heading
north to cooler Canada. Just this afternoon, my husband called me to the window excitedly.
There, at the foot of the photinia hedge, a lone White-crowned Sparrow was hopping humbly
through the green grass. Read Article »
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