HAWKS, EAGLES

Swainson’s Hawk, Buteo swainsoni

Family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles)

Size: 19", females larger than males

Season: Summer

Habitat: Dry prairies, open fields

The Swainson’s Hawk is a buteo with a long tail, long wings with pointed tips, and a relatively small, rounded head. It has variable plumage colors, ranging from dark morphs to the more common light morphs. The light morph has a white underside, a dark brown back, a rufous breast, and white lores and chin. Darker forms become rufous or dark brown on the breast and belly. In flight, the light morph has pale wing linings and a pale belly that contrasts with its darker flight feathers and tail. Swainson’s Hawks feed on small mammals, insects, and reptiles, either descending from a perch or by stalking on the ground. The hawk’s voice is a high-pitched eeeeww.