3 Large Birds: a Resident, a Summer Visitor, and One Just Passing Through

Southern Arizona serves a different role for each of these species

Red-tailed Hawks are considered the most common hawks across the United States. They are generalists in where they live, adapting to many habitats, and they are opportunists with what they eat. We have Red-tailed Hawks in the Tucson area year-round but their numbers increase during the winters as northern-based Red-tailed Hawks migrate south for the winter. The Red-tail below is not yet an adult. Its yellow iris and brown, barred tail are indicators of its young age. It had just landed at the top of the mesquite tree next to our car and struggled to find a stable landing spot.

The Red-tail's left foot kept a hold of the twig but it had to reach for a stronger support for its right foot. It takes two years for Red-tailed Hawks to develop their adult plumage (including the namesake red tail). Living near farmland may give this bird a good chance to mature and grow.

Turkey Vultures are sometimes defined as raptors and sometimes not. Although they do not have beaks and talons designed for hunting live prey, they are considered large birds-of-prey and have predatory behavior as scavengers of meat. Genetically, they are more closely related to storks. They are vultures of the New World and are not related to Buzzards at all. Turkey Vultures are common in southern Arizona during the summers. We do have some around during the winter but mostly this is a species seen here during the summer breeding season.

Turkey Vultures are known to spread their wings in order to absorb solar heat to warm up. This behavior is known as the horaltic pose.This pair of photos were shot on the relatively cool morning. After we saw the Turkey Vulture on the snag and took enough photos of it perched (above), my friend said out loud, "OK, you can spread your wings now," and the Turkey Vulture obliged!! It was given the name "turkey" vulture due to the red head which resembles that of a turkey. The "vulture" part of the name comes from the Latin word which means "tearer" or "plucker," describing their habit of how they feed on carrion or dead animals.

The Desert Museum tells us more about Turkey Vultures. A few days later I returned to the same area and found this young Turkey Vulture on the ground. Young Turkey Vultures have black heads which will begin to change colors at age one.

Red-tailed Hawks are here in southern Arizona year-round. Turkey Vultures are here mostly during the summers. Swainson's Hawks are common during migration seasons. In the Spring, we see them flying north on their journey from their winter stay in Argentina towards their breeding grounds across western North America. At this time of year they are heading back south for the winter.

This Swainson's Hawk was sitting on the side of a berm in the farm fields. It didn't seem to mind our vehicle. After shooting from inside of the car, I got out and walked up the farm road to try to take a photo from a different angle. In the shot below, the Hawk is behind the berm but the sunlight is more direct on the bird's face.

The Swainson's Hawk took off, flying parallel to the road and very close to the ground. You can see its 'finger' feathers curled up as the bird pushed its wings downward.

Just inches from the ground, the Hawk flew down the road for a bit. It was not hunting or looking around. It knew exactly where it wanted to go.

It soon landed on the irrigation ditch by the side of the field and then looked back as if to see how far it had come. Swainson's Hawks come in a wide variety of plumages, but to me this bird feels like it has yet to assume its adult plumage.

Over the next month, we'll continue to see more and more Swainson's Hawks migrating south and we'll see fewer and fewer Turkey Vultures as they head south. At the same time, the numbers of Red-tailed Hawks in southern Arizona will continue to grow as many of them fly into our area for the winter.