OH look what was in my backyard today!!!!

[Maraya1969]

I took the picture from my kitchen because I was afraid to startle him. He is "Broad-tailed Hawk"









The Broad-tailed Hawk breeds in North America east of the Rockies from Canada to Texas and almost the entire North American population migrates to Central America and northern South America during the northern winter. There is a sedentary population in southern Florida as well as in most Caribbean islands.

The sub-species shown here is B. p. cubanensis which is endemic to Cuba. The adult is streaky below and looks more like an immature of the nominate sub-species.

It is found in semi-deciduous and pine forest where it tends to still-hunt from a perch from where it searches for large insects, reptiles and birds.

[gbate]

He's gorgeous! Hawks are so cool.

[bigwillq]

1. Awesome pics!

That is so cool. :hi:

[cloudbase]

2. They are absolutely magnificent.

Sometimes when I'm flying a sailplane in a thermal, a hawk will come along and do a little formation flying with me.

[wildhorses]

8. how cool is that--hangin' with a hawk??!?!?

and welcome to du:hi:

[Taverner]

3. Awesome! Time to brew a beer!

And dedicate it to him

[marzipanni]

4. That's exciting, I love it when wildlife surprises us with an appearance.

Thanks for posting your photo and the info.
Did you hear about the coyote dropping by a Quiznos in Chicago?
http://www.nbc11.com/news/11534324/detail.html

[Maraya1969]

5. Yea I did. He looked like a wolf. I think I would have tried to pet him.

[Shell Beau]

6. I love Hawks. They are so cool! Nice pic!

[Maraya1969]

7. I found out that they are building a nest in the tree next door! I'd like to borrow

a telescope. When my mother's little community had a hawk's nest they put one up and you could see the little babies!

[Flaxbee]

9. s/he is beautiful!

I'm surprised I don't see more hawks in my neighborhood -- we're pretty rural, and there are zillions of tasty birdies at our birdfeeder every day...

[Kajsa]

10. Oh, he's beautiful!

It must have been very cool to be that close.

Thanks so much for posting this.

;-)

btw; I love your little kitty at the bottom of the frame.