Bird Gallery Index
Swainson's Hawk image (light morph) © Greg Lavaty
Family: (Accipitridae) Hawks and Allies
Preferred Habitat: Open country and grasslands.
Seasonal Occurrence: Most common spring and fall. Rare in winter. Small numbers nest in our area.
Profile by Glenn Olsen: This absolutely gorgeous hawk is most frequently observed in our area during the fall. In August it begins migrating out of North America en route to wintering grounds in South America, primarily Argentina. This 10,000 kilometer migration is thought to be the second longest migration for a raptor. Tundra breeding Peregrine Falcons are known to travel farther.
We normally observe this species in flight, and I especially enjoy the adult light plumage phase. Long, slender wings for a buteo; chestnut bib, white throat, white body and white leading half of the wing and dark trailing half of wing in contrast against a blue sky is a stunningly beautiful image !
To add a little extra challenge to the identification of this species, there is a dark color phase and an intermediate color phase, both being quite different in color from the light phase. Naturally, that's when knowledge of wing and body shape structure, tail pattern, and flight pattern proves valuable. It frequently holds the wings in a dihedral similar but not identical to Northern Harrier or Turkey Vulture.
In September, the prime month for raptor migration in our area, lone birds or small to large groups may be seen in the sky, gradually drifting southward.
Swainson's Hawks nest primarily in the prairies, grasslands, and agricultural fields of the western half of the U.S. and Canada. The largest breeding numbers occur in the Great Plains area. They breed in Texas, mostly in the northwestern part of the state. Small numbers also breed in the Houston area. Nests are found in solitary trees or large shrubs, small groves bordering fields, or trees of riparian areas. This bird is quite beneficial as its diet consists mainly of small mammals, rodents, grasshoppers and other insects. It consumes insects such as dragonflies, when in flight.
Swainson's Hawk is named after William Swainson (1789-1855) who was an English naturalist, collector, and author of several books about birds.
