Red-tailed Hawks to Swainson's Hawks...

BarrytheBirder

I am 84 years old.   I became interested in birding in my early twenties, and one bird I became very attracted to in my early years was the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

They were prevalent in my part of southern Ontario, a few kilometres north of Toronto, and quickly became my hawk.

Decades let, when I became 80 years of age, I saw my first Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni).   I saw it four years ago, over the Town of Aurora, Ontario, where I now live.

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are prevalent in the plains and prairies  of the central and western U.S.A., but do drift eastward to be seen in Ontario, as in my case.   I am now a bit fanatical about this 'Buteo'.   I see them many times a day over Aurora and I am particularly impressed with hoe they soar with up-tilted wings in high teetering, vulture-like flight.

I believe, in fact, that the Swainson's Hawks soar even higher than the Red-tailed Hawks.   The two birds are very similar in in size and measurements.   My Nastional Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern America says the following about the Swainson's range: ...nests on plains and prairies...primarily a fall migrant in eastern North America, rarely in southern Florida and south Texas.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder