Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Window to Wildlife

Red-tailed Hawk at the Lake Express Milwaukee Wisconsin December 23, 2014

I did some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning and there was nothing exciting to report in the places I stopped at. The Snowy Owl was still present at the Lake Express and located where it is typically hangs out at, the pipe. The highlight of the day for me was watching a pair of Red-tailed Hawks hunting at the Lake Express. As I watch one it eyed up its prey in a field and went for it. The prey won this time as I got back into its hole in the ground. Another observation I made today was a Red-tailed Hawk in a large puddle, could have been taking a bath which I must have missed. Minutes later it was up in the middle of a branched tree with it wings spread out dry them like a Double-crested Cormorant does. The sun shined for a whole 15 minutes today! With the mild temps and light winds it was nice to get out birding for a couple hours this morning. Images taken on December 23, 2014.

I see my prey!

It is here somewhere!

It got away!

Up looking for the next catch!

Doing a balancing act here with higher winds!

Red-tailed Hawk catches its prey

By admin | February 5, 2014 - 7:48 pm |February 10, 2015 Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

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Red-tailed Hawk catches its prey, a Short-tailed Shrew at Mitchell Park in Brookfield WI. Photographs taken on February 5, 2014.

Eyes on the vole

Going for the prey!

Off with the vole to a new perch

Note location of vole!

White-Tailed Kite

By admin | September 30, 2013 - 8:15 pm |September 30, 2013 Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

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White-Tailed Kite near Leola Marsh, Adams County, Wisconsin. Photographed on September 30, 2013.

White-Tailed Kite

Binomial name: Elanus leucurus

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Description: White with black shoulders and wingtips; elongated wings and tail. Red eyes and yellow legs.

Size: 14” – 17” long, 35” – 40” wingspan

Weight: 8.8 oz. – 13 oz.

Habitat: Coastal areas, marshes, sparse woodlands, and grasslands

Diet: Rodents and other small mammals

Nesting: Both parents choose the nesting site and may participate in building the nest; sometimes only the female builds the nest. The nest is typically in the top third of a tree and is shallow and made with twigs and grasses or leaves. The female will lay an average of 4 eggs at a time, laying 1 brood per season. The incubation period lasts 30 to 32 days and the young remain in the nest for about 35 days.

Notes: The White-Tailed Kite can hover in midair 80 feet above the ground without flapping its wings by facing into the wind. This behavior is called “kiting,” thus the name White-Tailed Kite. From this stationary position, the White-Tailed Kite will plunge straight down to retrieve its prey.

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Bald Eagle

By admin | June 18, 2013 - 5:42 pm |December 18, 2019 Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

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Bald Eagles on the Mississippi River in Le Claire IA in February 2012.

Bald Eagle

Binomial name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Description: Brown with a white head and white tail feathers. Yellow eyes, beak, and feet.

Size: 28″ – 40″ long, 5.9′ – 7.5′ wingspan

Weight: 6.6 lbs. – 14 lbs.

Habitat: Forested areas near open bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal shorelines.

Diet: Mostly fish but occasionally small mammals, ducks, and gulls.

Nesting: Both parents gather materials although the female does most of the building. The nests are made out of branches and sticks and then lined with grass, moss, and feathers. They may be rebuilt and reused repeatedly over many years. The typical clutch size is 1 to 3 eggs. Both parents will incubate the eggs with the female incubating more often while the male hunts for food. The young will fledge as early as 8 weeks after hatching, or up to 14 weeks.

Notes: Bald eagles mate for life (if one partner dies, the remaining will choose a new mate). They engage in elaborate courtship rituals which involves a locking of talons followed by a free fall; they separate just before hitting the ground. The Bald Eagle is the national bird and national animal of the United States of America, appearing on many official seals of the government.