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Red-tailed Hawk behavior

Discussion

2 replies
Posted by Arne Myrabo on May 20, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Red-tailed Hawk behavior
Is this a young hawk learning? I'm guessing they were at an altitude well above 500'. I have several photos (at extreme range - sorry for the lack of detail) with the "landing gear" down like this.

Posted by John W. Wall on May 20, 2010 at 5:10 PM
Instead of landing gear, it's probably more like courtship gear.
Posted by Arne Myrabo on May 20, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Got it - thanks http://digital-desert.com/wildlife/red-tailed-hawk.html

If you never look, you never see. Never really looked before (especially with a long lens) and never noticed this going on. I was watching her nest a month ago, too busy to check lately.