Today I thought I would post images of the immature Buteos that I see most often in Utah and Montana, they are Red-tailed, Rough-legged, Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks.  The Red-tailed, Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks all breed in my area, the Rough-legged Hawks breed in the Arctic.

Red-tailed Hawk juvenile and an intense stare, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaRed-tailed Hawk juvenile and an intense stare – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited, called in or set up

I photographed the young Red-tailed Hawk above during the summer in the Centennial Valley of Beaverhead County, Montana. It was a very cooperative bird and I was able to take quite a few images of it, I liked this image because of the way the raptor appeared to be staring intensely at something on the ground.

Immature Rough-legged Hawk side view, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, UtahImmature Rough-legged Hawk side view – Nikon D300, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 357mm, natural light, not baited, called in or set up

This immature Rough-legged Hawk was also very cooperative as it preened and fluffed on Antelope Island State Park in Davis County, Utah. This bird was photographed during the winter which is the only time I see Rough-legged Hawks in Utah and Montana.

Immature Ferruginous Hawk, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaImmature Ferruginous Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 357mm, natural light, not baited, called in or set up

This young Ferruginous Hawk was photographed the same morning as the immature Red-tailed Hawk shown above in the Centennial Valley of Beaverhead County, Montana. The Ferruginous Hawk hasn’t gotten the rufous coloration to its feathered legs yet. I wish I had been closer to this young bird as it appeared that some of the radiant heat rising from the road may have interfered with this image being as sharp as I wanted it or it may have been the pickup idling, I am not sure. I wasn’t driving.

Immature Swainson’s Hawk near the Red Rock River, Beaverhead County, MontanaImmature Swainson’s Hawk near the Red Rock River – Nikon D300, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited, called in or set up

This immature Swainson’s Hawk was photographed in the Centennial Valley of Beaverhead County Montana too, nearby there was another young and adult Swainson’s but they weren’t in good light like this young hawk was.

I always, and I do mean always, feel privileged when I am in the presence of these magnificent raptors where I can observe them and their behaviors and photograph these amazing hawks.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my hawk, eagle, osprey and vulture photos.