Swainson's Hawk

Just not getting time to either get out and take new photos - or else the weather has been really bad. Will be so glad when I don't need to grab photos from my archives! Photographed on 16 May 2009 at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, Southern Alberta.

"The Swainson's Hawk is a fairly common hawk of the prairies, and is identified by the dark breast and contrasting light throat and abdomen. The head, back, primaries and breast are all a dark brownish grey. The belly is cream to white in color. The tail is finely barred with a dark terminal band. A rare dark phase, where the entire body appears all black except for the face and banded tail, does exist. In flight, the wings are tilted slightly upwards, similar to the northern harrier.

Most of western North America is included in the breeding range, but winters are spent as far south as Argentina.

Open areas, as found in the grassland, foothill and parkland regions, fit the lifestyle of the Swainson's hawk.

Nests are built in bushes or trees, and three to five eggs are laid. Swainson's hawks are late nesters and the young birds may not leave the nest until the end of July.

The Swainson's hawk is classified as Sensitive in the General Status of Alberta Wild Species report. Population is dependent on healthy ground squirrel population."

esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/wild-species/birds/large-ha...