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The Assorted Hawks page contains 62 images of Cooper’s Hawks, Harris Hawks and
Light morph Ferruginous Hawks from Southern California and Bosque del Apache, NM.
Click an image to open a larger version.
Use your back button to return to this page.
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Raptor Section Index
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Cooper’s Hawk 0403 M
Our neighborhood male Cooper’s Hawk. A family of Cooper’s Hawks has lived here for years.
All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide.
Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M”
in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar.
Some of the portrait images are also designated as “M”, and are 1500 pixels tall (plus the title bar).
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Cooper’s Hawk 0401c
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Cooper’s Hawk 0402c
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Our local male Cooper’s Hawk, posing in a deeply shaded part of the tree canopy.
Adults are bluish-gray to brown on their back and wings depending on the light, and a mottled
red-orange on the breast and belly. They have a dark gray crown and a mask leading to the bill.
The adults cheeks and nape are lighter than the breast, and they have dark, hooked tearing bills.
Juveniles have a brown head and crown, a brown to buff streaked breast, and bright yellow eyes.
Adult eye color varies from a striking orange to a deep red, and their eye color darkens with age.
Under-tail coverts are white, and the long, rounded tail is banded with dark stripes and a white tip.
Feathers extend over the upper legs, but the lower legs are bare. The talons are exceedingly sharp.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0499
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Cooper’s Hawk 0500
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Our local female Cooper’s Hawk, taken a few weeks later.
Note the difference in eye color, and the broader dark tail bands.
Cooper’s Hawk 0502 M
A 1000 x 1590 portrait of our local female Cooper’s Hawk.
The female is larger and stockier than the male, with a deep chest.
Cooper’s Hawks are medium-sized birds of prey, about the size of a Raven. They are skillful fliers
who hunt through the trees at high speed in their search for medium-sized birds, their favorite prey.
They have long tails and short, broad, rounded wings which give them exceptional maneuverability.
Like most Hawks, the female Cooper’s Hawk is larger than the male, and since they prey on birds
males are careful about approaching females until they indicate their interest. The male builds the
nest and forages for food while the female broods the young. Based upon my experience with our
local family, the juvenile stays around the female for the first year, eventually finding its own home.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0510 M
The hunting style of the Cooper’s Hawk can often be dangerous to the hawk as well as its prey.
Studies performed on over 300 skeletons revealed that nearly 1/4 had healed chest fractures,
most likely from contact with trees while wending their way through the canopy at high speed.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0513
Since the Colonial days, the Cooper’s Hawk was known as the Chicken Hawk, and was hunted to prevent
them from preying on poultry. It is now known that they rarely take domestic birds and they are rarely hunted.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0519c
A close crop of the female taken from a very low angle.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0522c
A cropped portrait taken from a more typical angle.
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Cooper’s Hawk 0532 M
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Cooper’s Hawk 0533 M
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Cooper’s Hawks hunt by the flap-flap-glide method, using short wingbeats.
The hawk dives on its prey and captures it in its talons, squeezing it until it dies.
They have also occasionally been known to drown their prey by holding it underwater.
Cooper’s Hawk 0554 M
A rear view of the female Cooper’s Hawk, showing the dark wings and brown, banded upperside of the tail.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Cooper’s Hawk 1668 M
A 1000 x 1590 portrait of a young adult male Cooper’s Hawk, taken
in the woods below the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3138
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Cooper’s Hawk 3139
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Several portraits of the female Cooper’s Hawk, taken on different trees as she moved around the area.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3168
The female Cooper’s Hawk standing on a tasty bit of squirrel.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3218
A shaded portrait taken after she finished her meal.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3197
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Cooper’s Hawk 3203
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Cooper’s Hawks primarily feed on rodents (squirrels, mice, and occasionally rabbits)
and on small to medium-sized birds, such as Robins, Pigeons, Starlings, and any
songbirds which they catch at feeders, as well as small raptors, such as Kestrels.
Here, the female is feeding on an unidentifiable squirrel bit on a branch.
Cooper’s Hawk 3205
Cooper’s Hawks are often easily mistaken for Sharp-Shinned Hawks, their smaller cousins.
The primary differences are that Sharp-Shinned Hawks have a smaller head, a large chest,
narrow hips and very small diameter legs. Cooper’s Hawks have larger heads, the widest
part of their body is the lower part of the chest rather than the upper chest, and they have
larger diameter legs (three times the diameter) and are significantly larger birds overall.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Cooper’s Hawk 3224 M
A rear portrait of the female Cooper’s Hawk, showing the brown wings and upper side of the tail.
The previous portraits were all taken at 300mm to 420mm. Those in this section were taken at 200mm.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3249 M
Another portrait taken after she hopped over to the larger branch beyond to show us her better side.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3351
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Cooper’s Hawk 3333
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A series of portraits of the female Cooper’s Hawk, taken a few days later on a mild early spring day.
Cooper’s Hawk 3369
Cooper’s Hawk populations were drastically reduced due to the widespread use of persistent pesticides
such as DDT in the 1940s to 1970s, which reduced the calcium content in their eggshells. This caused the
eggshells to break and the embryos died. Populations have recovered since DDT and DDE were banned.
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Cooper’s Hawk 3372 M
An adult female Cooper’s Hawk performing sentry duty over her neighborhood from a high branch.
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Cooper’s Hawk and Juvenile 0588
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Cooper’s Hawk and Juvenile 0609
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A juvenile Cooper’s Hawk perched with its mother. The juvenile (top) has a brown head and streaked breast.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Harris Hawk 3502
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Harris Hawk 3503
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A captive Harris Hawk (Harris’s Hawk). Harris Hawks are unique in that they hunt cooperatively
with other Harris Hawks using advanced group hunting tactics. The hawks scout in small groups,
with one group flying ahead, then the other group. When they find their prey, they surround it and
one bird flushes the prey while another catches it. Sometimes, they take turns chasing the prey.
In situations where there is no cover, all of the hawks will pounce on the unfortunate creature.
Harris Hawks prey upon other birds, lizards, and mammals such as squirrels and rabbits.
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Harris Hawk 4721
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Harris Hawk 4722
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The Harris Hawk is a large, dark brown raptor which is a popular species in Falconry. The upper wing coverts,
wing linings, flanks and thighs are a rusty chestnut color, and their tail coverts and the tip of the tail are white.
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Harris Hawk 4723
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Harris Hawk 4729
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Harris Hawks live in sparse woodland, arid scrub desert and grasslands,
and in some parts of their range, they live in wetlands or in sparse forests.
Harris Hawk HS1990
Because of their exceptional intelligence and social character, Harris Hawks
have become increasingly popular in Falconry. Onene of the easiest raptors to
train, they are now the most popular Hawk in Western Falconry outside of Asia.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 3421
A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk patrols the skies over Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 3437 M
The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest of the Buteo hawks (the same genus as the Red-Tailed Hawk), and
along with the Rough-Legged Hawk is one of only two hawks whose legs are feathered down to the talons.
There are both Light and Dark morphs (the dark morph is dark brown, with light areas on the wings and tail).
The Light morph are more common, and are buff to white on the undersides with rust-red streaks, with pale
head and neck and the rufous back and wing feathers for which this hawk is named. Ferruginous means
resembling iron rust in appearance or color, and is derived from ferrous (relating to or containing iron).
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 4156 M
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 4159c M
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A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk on watch beside the Flight Deck at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide.
Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M”
in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar.
Some of the portrait images are also designated as “M”, and are 1500 pixels tall (plus the title bar).
Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5912 M
As is typical with Raptors, the female Ferruginous Hawk is larger than the male. Their plumage is similar.
These are hunters of the arid prairies and grasslands of the North American interior, and prefer open areas.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5929 M
The reddish-brown feathers on the back and wings give the Ferruginous Hawk its name.
The Ferruginous Hawk hunts for small mammals like squirrels, prairie dogs and rabbits.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5943 M
Ferruginous Hawk have the largest wingspan of any North American hawk (48-60”, with an average of 56”).
They use these large wings to hover and soar in circular patterns over open areas, looking for their prey.
They also hunt from the ground, waiting near burrow entrances for ground squirrels and prairie dogs.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5946
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5951
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The cere (structure at the base of the bill) and feet are bright yellow.
The bill is dark gray, with a black tip and the eyes are a dark amber.
Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5946c
The Ferruginous Hawk has a huge mouth which allows it to swallow
large rodents like ground squirrels or even small prairie dogs whole.
The yellow gape skin (at the edge of the mouth) extends below the eye.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5955 M
A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk perched in a tree at the edge of the Farm Loop at Bosque del Apache.
In the winter, when squirrels and other rodents are less active, the Ferruginous Hawk preys on other birds.
The hawk watches the flight of each bird which enters the area to see if it flies away or if it perches nearby.
If the bird perches, the hawk marks the area and begins a fast, low, nap of the earth approach, keeping
itself hidden from its prey. Using its sharp vision to adjustment its path, the hawk strikes by surprise.
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Ferruginous Hawk Skimming Approach 2442
Rather than using the typical diving attack from high above which is preferred by other hawks,
the Ferruginous Hawk prefers to mark its prey from above, then make a low skimming approach.
This unfortunately back-focused image of a hunting approach was taken at great distance (850mm).
The hawk was flying very fast and low, and my focus slipped to the grass a few feet beyond the bird.
Normally, I do not use a shot like this, but it is the only shot I have of a skimming hunting approach.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5973 M
A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk strikes a regal pose at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
The Latin species name for this hawk is Buteo regalis (of or pertaining to a king), the Royal Hawk.
Following are a group of frontal and profile portraits of perched Light morph Ferruginous Hawks.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5981 M
A 1200 x 1590 M-sized frontal portrait of a Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 5990
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6001
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Due to its agility and speed, the Ferruginous Hawk is popular among experienced Falconers.
Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6116
A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk poses while scanning the fields at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6119 M
Profile portraits of a Light morph Ferruginous Hawk at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6121c M
A 1200 x 1590 M-sized profile portrait of a Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk.
Following are several distant and close frontal portraits taken at Bosque del Apache.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6130 M
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6131 M
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All of the images of the Ferruginous Hawk were taken at a fairly long distance.
For all except the two above which were taken at 500mm, an 850mm lens was used.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6136
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6142
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The exposures of the backlit bird were all quite challenging, as you want to reveal the shaded detail
without overexposing the pale bird and the sky, and minimize overexposure of the brightly lit feathers.
Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6144 M
A Light morph Ferruginous Hawk poses while scanning the fields at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk 6147 M
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Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk XL
A 1500 x 1025 version of the XL Composite image (3205 x 2125).
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Click the Display Composite above to visit the Red-Tailed Hawks in Flight page
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Click the Display Composite above to visit the Red-Tailed Hawk Portraits page
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Click the Display Composite above to return to the Raptors Index
(or use the navigation bars below to select another section or page)
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