id please

22 years ago

This one was around our backyard for a few weeks. I haven't seen him lately though. I haven't seen those baby rabbits in the backyard lately either.. hrm.. :)

I'm in central Indiana

Thanks,

Chad

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Comments (7)

luc_quebec
22 years ago
Hi Chad,

Beautiful picture.

I say an immature Red-tailed Hawk who has just eat.

Luc
jphillipobrien
22 years ago
i'm gonna go with a immature coopers...definitely not a red-tailed.
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John_Blakeman
22 years ago
This is a classic first-year redtail, a male. The small head and short bill makes it a male.

And yes, it just had a fine feast. The crop is filled and the bird is conveniently perched in a calm digestion mode. Notice that the right foot is drawn up and slighly clinched. The bird is completely satisfied.

An adult bird has enough experience and sense not to park itself on such a low perch. An adult would fly off and take a similar pose on a distant high branch of a remote tree. But this youngster is quite satisfied with its hunting prowess, even if it has chosen a crude perch.

This bird is likely to survive the winter and enter the breeding population in a few years. Only one out of five young redtails are able to survive to breeding age. This fellow may make it.

(I train and hunt with redtails and know them extensively. There is no doubt about this bird.)
garliclover
Original Author
22 years ago
Thanks for the input everyone. I tried to ID this one myself with my Eastern Sibley's Guide. However, nothing seemed to match perfectly. I suppose it is tough to match them up when they are a bit younger.

John - Yep, this bird was lying low and wasn't scared a bit by me. I snapped this pic at about 30 feet. I first saw him on the neighbor's swing set and then he flew over to our other neighbor's arbor. So, do you think this one would be capable of eating a small rabbit? We used to have tons of them hopping around, but I don't see them anymore. :) Thanks for all the information.

-Chad
John_Blakeman
22 years ago
Chad,

Yes, this bird most probably had fresh young rabbit for it's obvious feast. Young bunnies, especially suburban ones, make lethal mistakes in merely bobbing around in a backyard. Easy pickings for a bird like this

Out in the wilder parts, the young rabbits stay safely beneath the coarse vegetation. Here in a backyard, the little bunny got converted to hawk growth and energy.

Nature in the raw.
dakster
22 years ago
No one has yet discovered a the hottest ticket in the birding world would be the Juvy Book and the Molting Book. Hopefully someday someone will come out with it and that might help us all take the guesswork out of alot of stuff. :)
patricia_MD
21 years ago
Chad - Thanks for posting that great picture! I used to live in Indiana. Had some of my best birding experiences there. I was able to do some birding with a wonderful biology professor from Ball State.

John - I've been meaning to join here for months, and reading this thread inspired me to take the step. Your posts are so interesting! How neat that you are so intimate with the appearance and habits of redtails! I'm looking forward to learning more. Thanks for sharing your expertise! - Pat