Adult Swainson's in flight over Box Elder County, UtahAdult Swainson’s in flight over Box Elder County, Utah

It won’t be long before Swainson’s Hawks start to migrate to South America and some may already have started their journey south. Their breeding habitat is prairie and dry grasslands throughout western North America and they are named after William Swainson who was a British naturalist. Swainson’s Hawks will breed as far north as southwestern Yukon and east-central Alaska.

Adult Swainson's Hawk in the Centennial Valley, MontanaAdult light morph Swainson’s Hawk in the Centennial Valley, Montana

Swainson’s Hawks are also known as Grasshopper Hawks or Locust Hawks because they are very fond of locusts and grasshoppers and will scarf them down whenever or wherever they are available. This past summer I saw a flock of 70 or more Swainson’s in a single field gorging themselves on grasshoppers until they lifted off to form a whirling kettle of raptors in the sky.

Adult Swainson's in flight over Fremont County, IdahoAdult Swainson’s in flight over Fremont County, Idaho

Swainson’s Hawks have three color morphs, light, intermediate, and dark and I enjoy seeing and photographing them all. In Utah, Montana and Idaho I see a lot of Swainson’s in agricultural areas that are irrigated and not so many of them when fields are dry farmed. The bird above was perched in a fir tree near a small group of houses near Henry’s Lake in Idaho after about 5 minutes the bird lifted off and flew towards some grassy fields near the lake.

Sub-adult Swainson's Hawk in Beaverhead County, MontanaSub-adult Swainson’s Hawk in Beaverhead County, Montana

I enjoy seeing Swainson’s Hawks in juvenile, sub-adult and adult plumage, to me they are all beautiful no matter what phases of plumage they are in.

Adult Swainson's Hawk portrait on Antelope Island State Park, UtahAdult Swainson’s Hawk portrait on Antelope Island State Park, Utah

Swainson’s Hawks probably have the longest migration of any North American raptor, they can travel as far as 14,000 miles and each migration may last as long as two months. The hawks ride on thermals as they make their way to Central America where almost the entire population travels through the Isthmus of Panama. I wish I had been in Panama City in September or October instead of in March so I could have witnessed the spectacular sight of hundreds or thousands of Swainson’s Hawks passing overhead.

Light Swainson's Hawk sub-adult in the Centennial Valley, MontanaLight morph Swainson’s Hawk sub-adult in the Centennial Valley, Montana

Yes, the Summer of Swainson’s is nearing an end  and they will be leaving soon but I have had a great time with them this summer and it isn’t over yet!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Swainson’s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.