Hawks, Eagles, Kites and Allies (Pictures)

Question 1

Answer 1

Bald Eagle

• The classic colouring of a bald eagle doesn’t develop until the raptors are between four and five years old.
• Wing span up to 8ft, weighing in at about 10lbs (mostly feathers).
• In the wild, they can live up to 25 years old.
• fun fact- they have such a silly and surprising sounding chirp that they need to be dubbed over in movies with a fierce call from a red-tailed hawk!
• They mate for life.
• Part of the courtship is a “cartwheel display” where the two eagles grab each others talons high in the air and tumble through the air breaking apart at the last moment.
• They nest in very tall trees, often near water. Said nest are used for several years growing up to 10ft in diameter weighing as much as 2000lbs.
• Both male and female take part in taking care for the young.
• The age of first flight is 10-12 weeks.

Question 2

Answer 2

Broad-winged Hawk

• Is considered to be one of the most common hawk in North America.
• Lifespan is typically up to 4 years.
• Wingspan of 32-39 inches while weighing up to 14-17lbs.
• Lay up to 2-3 eggs at a time.
• Flight speed of 20-40 mph.
• Nests are built annually by both sexes, 14-21 inches in diameter, 15-50 high and incubation is 25-28 days.
• The young leave the nest at 5 weeks, and tend to stay in the nest are for another 2 weeks while still being tended to by the adults.
• Riding rising warm air currents, they swirl upward in what are called “kettles” before gliding off to the next natural elevator.
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Question 3

Answer 3

Cooper’s Hawk

• weighs about 1.2lbs
• 14-21 inches long.
• Wingspan of 27-36 inches.
• Females are up to one third larger than males, one of the largest sexual dimorphism size differences in any hawk.
• Makes nest 20-60ft above ground level.
• The males makes the nest, but is sometimes assisted by the female.
• sometimes the nest is built on top of an old squirrel, crow, or hawk nest.
• the female lays 4-6 bluish white eggs that hatch in 5 weeks.
• the young leave the nest after 4-5 weeks but the parents continue to provide food until the young become independent at 8 weeks.
• Their long tails act as rudders that allow them to be extremely maneuverable in wooded areas as they hunt birds on the wing.
• Bobwhites, starlings, blackbirds, chipmunks and squirrels are common prey for this hunter.
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Question 4

Answer 4

Mississippi Hawk

Question 5

Answer 5

Northern Harrier

Question 6

Answer 6

Osprey

Question 7

Answer 7

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Question 8

Answer 8

Red-Tailed Hawk

Question 9

Answer 9

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Question 10

Answer 10

Swallow-Tail Kite