I was overjoyed to see an immature light morph Ferruginous Hawk in my viewfinder four years ago in December while I was out in Utah’s West Desert.
Light morph Ferruginous Hawk with its eyes on the clouds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
It was a cold, crisp day. The kind of day with just enough light, fluffy clouds to break up the bright blue sky. When I first spotted this young hawk it was perched on the top branches if a tree. After I pointed out the location of the handsome raptor, I was able to take some photos of it.
It didn’t take long for the light morph Ferruginous Hawk to lift off and go after prey. When if did it flew in front of the soft clouds. The inexperienced young raptor missed the prey and to my surprise flew back to the tree it had been perched on.
Young raptors are often less skittish than adults are which can put them at risk. With experience and time they learn to be more wary of people and other predators.
Immature Ferruginous Hawk right after taking off – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
When this young Ferruginous Hawk was perched in the tree it had small branches in front of it. Those branches didn’t allow me clear views of the regal young buteo. I kept watching the hawk through my viewfinder hoping it would go after prey again. It wasn’t long before the young Ferruginous Hawk took off again and gave me this view of it with its wings fully spread open.
Ferruginous Hawks are one of my favorite buteos because of their large size which makes it easy for me to spot them from long distances. I also love their coloring in both the light and dark morph plumages and their rusty colored feathered legs. They are very impressive birds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ferruginous Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful. I hope it honed its hunting skills and learned to be more wary.