NEW SIGHTING OF HAWKS

TODAY I SAW A NEW SIGHTING OF A RED TAILED HAWK WHICH WAS ON A COAST LIVE OAK TREE WHERE I LIVE ABOUT 500' ABOVE SEA LEVEL. IT HAD AN ORANGE TAIL AND IT HUNTS FROM THE AIR AND FROM EXPOSED PERCHES. THE BULK OF THEIR DIET IS SMALL MAMMALS. THEY ARE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE WITH SPOTTED BLACK DOTS ON THEIR WINGS, AND A WHITEBREAST WITH SMALL BROWN SPOTS. IT HAS A SMALL HEAD. IT'S WINGSPAN IS 4 1/2 FEET. AND IT IS 19-26 INCHES IN LENGTH.

THE RED SHOULDERED HAWK HAS A RED SHOULDER PATCH AND IT'S LENGTH IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE RED TAILED HAWK. IT HAS A LARGE BLACK AND WHITE SPOTTED TAIL, WITH A LIGHT TAN BREAST. IT'S WINGSPAN IS ABOUT 3 1/2 FEET. IT IS NOT CONSPICUOUS IN ITS BEHAVIOR AS THE RED TAILED HAWK. IT NESTS IN BIG TREES. THE FEMALE LAYS 2 - 3 EGGS, AND PERCHES BELOW THE TREETOPS. THEY EAT A WIDE VARIETY OF PREY INCLUDING MAMMALS, BIRDS, FROGS, SNAKES, LIZARDS AND SNAILS.