Dark morph Swainson’s Hawk portrait – Nikon D500, f9, 1/500, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I have shared photos of this gorgeous dark morph Swainson’s Hawk before and since today is the four year anniversary of me finding it I thought I would share one more. I found the extremely dark Swainson’s Hawk next to a road in Box Elder County in northern Utah on a chilly morning.
The chocolatey colored hawk may have been stickier than normal because it was so cold that morning or because it had just arrived after its long migration. There is no way for me to know for certain why it was sticky I just know that I was over the moon because it was and I took frame after frame of this hawk.
I relish being able to take portraits of my subjects without disturbing them and in the case of this dark morph Swainson’s Hawk it seemed entirely at ease with my presence in a mobile blind on the opposite side of the road. It scratched, preened, rested, roused, stretched and looked around while my shutter button got a work out. I took hundreds of photos of this striking raptor and I don’t regret a single one.
It has been four years since I photographed this dark morph Swainson’s Hawk and I have yet to find another as dark as this bird was. I try not to play favorites with my subjects but this raptor certainly is one of my favorite Swainson’s Hawks that I have ever photographed.
I’ve seen and photographed a few Swainson’s Hawks already this spring and I am keeping a look out for any dark morphs that might rival this individual’s striking beauty.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Swainson’s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a darkly handsome fellow! Great eye contact and the detail is wonderful. Thanks Mia.
He certainly was cooperative to sit for this gorgeous portrait. Far from being disturbed by you presence, he seems almost curious about what you were doing out on such a cold day.
Thanks for another beautiful portrait.
That is a beautiful bird.
Such a handsome bird. Lucky you — and us — to have so much time with this beauty.
Absolutely Awesome photos Mia
Beautiful color depth in his feathers, and I love the lighting on his eye. What a wonderful meeting!