Another interesting raptor I encountered at Mid Pines Rd. earlier this week was a gorgeous Red Tailed Hawk.
I couldn’t believe how relaxed and calm this large bird was. In fact, the only time it ruffled its feathers was when a truck drove by it.
I thought for sure it would fly off with the approach of the vehicle, yet it simply flapped it’s wings to balance itself on the post against the wind created by the passing truck.
Though I captured these portraits with a zoom lens from a good distance away, standing alone in a wide open field under the watchful gaze of this bird felt different than when I’m photographing songbirds in the trees.
It’s almost like it knew I wasn’t a threat.
Still, I was glad not to be a mouse in those brief moments haha!
These hawks are an impressive sight up close. They are large birds with beautiful plumage that varies from light to dark morphs within this species wide regional range.
Here in N.C. adults have dark brown eyes and that familiar reddish rust colored tail. The younger birds have light colored eyes and will molt out their brown banded tail for reddish feathers after one year.
A familiar sight to many living in the Western Hemisphere, the breeding range of the Red tailed Hawk extends from central Alaska through Canada, across the entire United States, south through Mexico and all the way down into Central America.
It’s neat to know that you can find one of these gorgeous birds perched calmly on a field post, surveying it’s wide domain just about anywhere in this part of the world 🙂
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds
