Swainson’s Hawk Images, Facts and Information:
Buteo swainsoni
- Swainson’s Hawks are large hawks with short tails, broad wings, reddish brown to gray upperparts and generally have light bellies. Their plumage varies and they can be seen in light morphs, intermediate morphs and dark morphs.
- Swainson’s Hawks are migratory, they spend the summer in western North America and the winter in South America. Swainson’s Hawks may migrate as far as 14,000 miles.
- Swainson’s Hawks prefer wide open habitat including grasslands, prairies, agricultural fields.
- Swainson’s Hawks eat grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies and small mammals including rabbits, voles, mice and gophers plus lizards and other birds.
- Swainson’s Hawks lay 2 to 4 eggs which hatch in 30 days. Both sexes incubate and they are monogamous.
- Swainson’s Hawks are also known as Grasshopper Hawks or Locust Hawks.
- A group of hawks can be called a “tower”, “knot”, “spiraling”, “stream” or “kettle” of hawks.
- Swainson’s Hawks can live to be over 23 years of age.
I hope that you enjoy viewing my Swainson’s Hawk photos.
Calling adult Swainson’s Hawk
Title: Calling adult Swainson’s Hawk
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/22/2012
Swainson’s Hawk in the Centennial Valley of Montana
Title: Swainson’s Hawk in the Centennial Valley of Montana
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/22/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling from a fence post
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling from a fence post
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/22/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling near its young
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling near its young
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/22/2012
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawks and their nest
Title: Juvenile Swainson’s Hawks and their nest
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/22/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling while in flight
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk calling while in flight
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/21/2012
Adult Swainson’s at moment of lift off from a post
Title: Adult Swainson’s at moment of lift off from a post
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/21/2012
Adult Swainson’s perched on a post in the Centennial Valley
Title: Adult Swainson’s perched on a post in the Centennial Valley
Location: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana
Date: 8/21/2012
Swainson’s Hawk on the way to Bear River NWR
Title: Swainson’s Hawk on the way to Bear River NWR
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 6/3/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk near Howell, Utah
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk near Howell, Utah
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk adult gliding by
Title: Swainson’s Hawk adult gliding by
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk fly by
Title: Swainson’s Hawk fly by
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s with spread wings
Title: Swainson’s with spread wings
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk preparing to land
Title: Swainson’s Hawk preparing to land
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk in flight in Box Elder County, Utah
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk in flight in Box Elder County, Utah
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk perched on a power pole
Title: Swainson’s Hawk perched on a power pole
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk right after lifting off from a power pole
Title: Swainson’s Hawk right after lifting off from a power pole
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk lifting off from a power pole
Title: Swainson’s Hawk lifting off from a power pole
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Swainson’s Hawk adult about to land on a power pole
Title: Swainson’s Hawk adult about to land on a power pole
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/10/2012
Adult Swainson’s Hawk on a speed limit sign
Title: Adult Swainson’s Hawk on a speed limit sign
Location: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Date: 5/27/2011