Five Different Raptors

Three Types of Falcons and one Hawk from two different outings

Back in January I took a drive through farmland in Pinal County. There were a good number of wintering raptors there. Here is one view of the farmland I drove through looking west towards the Sawtooth Mountains.

Among the raptors we saw, my favorite may have been this Merlin. We don’t have Merlins in southern Arizona during summers but during the winter, a number of these falcons come to our area. Falcons, including this Merlin, use powerful speed to catch their prey. I don’t see Merlins often so this was a real treat to see. Birdnote shares more about this species.

On another drive, I was traveling through Altar Valley, south of Tucson. It was a very cool winter morning and this male American Kestrel was all puffed up, trying to stay warm. Kestrels are another of Americas’ six falcon species. Kestrels are smaller and lighter than Merlins. Birdnote tells us more about Kestrels here.

This Crested Caracara was atop a palo verde tree near a housing development. These Caracaras are also falcons, but evolved very differently some 7-11 million years ago. They are not speedsters like other true falcons are but are a fascinating and unusual looking bird-of-prey. Matt Griffiths wrote a nice piece for Tucson Bird Alliance about these members of the falcon family.

Later on our drive, we saw two Crested Caracaras on a giant Saguaro cactus. In southern Arizona, Crested Caracaras build their nests in the swirling arms of Saguaro cacti. For those Crested Caracaras who make their home further south into Mexico where there are no Saguaro cacti, they will use other columnar cacti such as Cardon or Organ Pipe to place their nests in. The Desert Museum shares some information about Crested Caracaras and other falcons.

This is a close-up of one of the Caracaras that was sitting atop the saguaro.

We also spotted a good old Red-tailed Hawk. It, too, thought it was not warm enough to take off so it stayed alert but remained on its perch as we slowly drove by.

For me, Raptors are very special birds!!!!