Look What's Abroad

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Several days ago, while taking a break in the afternoon,  I watched this Broadwing fly into the back of the property.  This is one of my favorite hawks.  It's one of the smaller hawks, easily recognized by its tail and, in flight, its pointed wings.  It's diet consists of small mammals, reptiles and insects.  By the way, we have an abundance of small mammals and lizards.

 

This is a juvenal recognizable by its black moustachial streak.



Original Photograph

Young Hawk

Rarely can I think of an occasion when even the experts can’t agree on identification. Yet, this young bird has left us all scratching our heads. It showed up in the trees of a back yard close to the lake, but not on the lake.




Because it is so young our books and experiences have left us to wonder. We think it is either an immature Red Shouldered Hawk or an immature Swainson’s Hawk. Weigh in and give your opinion.

Photos by George Chase