Raptors and Sparrows

Peregrine Falcon

It was another search for the Gyrfalcon in Hadley, Massachusetts............another dip! (birder talk for failing to see the target bird). But it was a great day for raptors and sparrows! 

We witnessed the pursuit of a Peregrine by the much smaller American Kestrel.

American Kestrel chasing a Peregrine

Kestrel trying to chase the peregrine out of his territory.

Northern Harrier scanning the fields

Northern Harrier

Rough-legged Hawk - light phase

rough-legged hawk

A Vesper Sparrow, who should have been much further south, posed nicely.

as did this Savannah Sparrow, who also should have been further south.

Savannah Sparrow

This is the winter area for the tree sparrow, they go further north in the summer.

American Tree Sparrow

Love how he's holding onto the upright branch!

American Tree Sparrow

Winter Birds

Horned Lark

Tired of the usual birds who visit your feeders? Find an agricultural area and you'll be rewarded with some birds we only see in the winter. We visited the Hadley "honey pot" area near the CT river in Massachusetts.

Horned Larks

Horned larks don't hop from spot to spot like other birds, they walk, although it really looks like a determined march.

Snow buntings also march!

Big, open spaces are the perfect areas for raptors and we saw red-tailed hawks, a kestrel and 2 bald eagles. 

American Kestrel

Bald Eagles

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel, Still a Falcon But Not Related to Hawks Anymore!

Kestrels

  The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) published its new checklist of North American birds with lots of changes! The most talked about in my circle is the repositioning of falcons. Long believed to be related to hawks, DNA evidence has now shown them to be closer relatives to parrots and songbirds (passerines)!
  According to the AUO site: "Parrots (Psittaciformes) and Passeriformes (Passerines) are are now believed to be each others' closest relatives, and sister to Falcons & Caracaras (Falconiformes). Believe it or not, hawks (Accipitriformes) are not closely related to falcons, despite the apparent similarity, and falcons are technically closer to Ruby-crowned Kinglet or House Sparrow!"

female Kestrel

 In Vermont, our falcons include kestrel, merlin, peregrine and the very rare gyrfalcon. We've been counting migrating nighthawks (not hawks either but this isn't new) and Gerry captured some great pictures of the resident kestrels.

kestrel

I'm sure we'll continue to count falcons along with the hawks and other birds of prey when we participate in the Putney Mountain Hawkwatch starting in a few days.

kestrel

Stayed tuned for more pictures of our Maine trip!