In the past I’ve photographed many buteo species regurgitating pellets but until two days ago I’d never done it with a Ferruginous Hawk. And the aftermath of this event was entertaining for me and perhaps for the hawk too. I’d never seen it happen before and I have to wonder if the hawk had.
Day before yesterday we found this young first winter Ferruginous Hawk in Tooele County. I took a few shots from my first vantage point but I wanted to improve my angle on ‘him’ (I don’t really know the sex of this bird) in case he took off in the direction he’s facing so…
I drove my pickup forward a few feet which put mountains in the background. I also removed my teleconverter to accommodate his wings in the event he took off but in the end I wish I’d left it on for the unexpected behavior that followed.
Suddenly he began to retch. He really struggled to get the pellet up to the back of his throat and it took him quite a while. I didn’t have any light on his face for this and several photos that follow but I still think this series is good documentation of interesting behavior and its aftermath.
The pellet began to emerge.
It’s a long pellet and part of it was still lodged in his throat so he continued to struggle.
Here it finally dropped straight down from his open mouth. It’s in shade so the dark pellet is difficult to see against the shade of the bird so I’ve marked it with a small red arrow. I’ve also included a red arrow on the following five images to make it easier for readers to follow the path of the pellet which is about embark on a journey.
The hawk was perched on a steep hill so the pellet began to roll downhill. Soon it disappeared behind the rock…
but six frames later it had reappeared and rolled far enough downhill that it was out of the shade of the rock and a little easier to see. Here it has picked up snow as it rolled and we also see snow being flung upwards from it.
“Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’, rawhide” – sorry but it was time for an earworm for all you Clint Eastwood Rawhide fans from days gone by.
The pellet continues to roll.
The hawk watched the entire journey of the pellet as it continued to roll downhill even though he was still recovering from the near-trauma of expelling it.
The bit of vegetation in front of the still-rolling pellet apparently slowed it down enough that it…
twisted and then lodged against the side of the rock. Its journey was over.
The hawk celebrated by throwing poop in the middle of a wing stretch…
and eventually taking off.
Man, do I ever wish I had light on his face in this shot!
Ron
Note: I ran out of time to include individual image techs but most of these shots were taken at 1/5000, f/7.1. ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender.
Yes, I had plenty of shutter speed. Snow and bright sky will do that.
A very clean and healthy bird for sure! Nice that you were able to “catch” that. He must have felt comfortable with you to share that private moment. 🙂
I hate to admit it, but this series had me LOLing along the way. Not that I don’t have sympathy for the hawk’s plight, but the look on his face in the fifth shot — and then that celebratory PS — well, I just can’t help myself. And neither could he! Terrific pictures, Ron, of such a beautiful young raptor learning the hard way what goes down eventually must come up. 😬
What a wonderful set Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Gross but fascinating. Something only a biologist could love😉.
BTW, you might want to recall Wagon Train.
Ha, you’re right, Lyle – Ward Bond was on Wagon Train, not Rawhide. The actor I was thinking of was named Eric something I think. I’ll do the recall.
He looks like a snake “re-hingeing” its jaw after a big meal. Poor baby, although he must have felt much better by the time he took off. If not for the poop, it would look like he’s taking a bow after the whole pellet performance. So amazing that you caught all of the action! (Although, you lose 10 points for including the earworm.) 😉
You’re right, it does look like a snake readjusting its jaws after a meal. I hadn’t thought of that, which surprises me. Thanks, Marty.
Definitely better out than in.
And how glad I am to see those pristine britches were safe from the other (and easier) expulsion.
Ha, good point about his britches, EC.
“Throwing a Pellet”, really? Ah, common Ron, life is too short, we need a “smart ass title” every once in a while!
Just kidding, great shots and with the 1.4 off, that last shot, yes I know the head is not in the light, is a terrific view of the whole bird, especially coverts under the wing!
Any idea what he might have preyed upon in that area that would produce such a large pellet?
Given the dark color of the pellet my guess would be voles but that’s only a guess. Thanks, Dick.
Wow. That was a huge pellet!
It sure was.
Only in the minds of a biologist/bird photographer. Yes, sometimes its the small things in life that entertain us. You could entitle this series: excretion from one end to the other!
All in jest Ron. Loved the series. Hope the light is good for you today.
Frank, I considered several smart-ass titles but “in the end” I decided to keep it clinical… 🙂
” several smart-ass titles”
I see what you did there. 😛
I can’t help myself…
WOW! I wonder if one ever does choke on a large one! My peristaltic action gets WAY to sympathetic to another’s so avoid watching/being around when it’s going on tho the photo’s aren’t so bad……;) Interesting that the hawk was watching it roll away and his HUGE celebration of “mission accomplished” 🙂 Love the wing position in preparation for take off.
I have a similar sympathetic reaction in that situation so I try to avoid everything associated with it. I haven’t vomited since I was a very sick kid with pneumonia about 60 years ago (more than you want to know) but there have been times when I’d have felt better if I had. Thanks, Judy.
Me too on vomiting! 😉
Boy, Ron – I bet you were pushing along with the hawk to get that pellet out!! And talk about a long journey – the 2 of you were spellbound!! Wonderful behavioral series – from both ends – LOL!! I can also feel your pain for the shadow on the Hawk’s face!! It’s a great capture that would have been spectacular with a well lit face – drat!!
“I bet you were pushing along with the hawk to get that pellet out!!”
That brought a chuckle, Jo Ann. I probably was! Thank you.
Fantastic series Ron. What an experience for this young guy. Anyone who has ever been chocking on something knows the panicky feeling. Good you were there to catch this unique photo op.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
PS: speaking of birds, my Eagles upset the Rams 🙂
I’m amazed that I’ve never seen a raptor get into serious choking trouble while expelling a pellet. I once photographed a harrier who had a very difficult time of it, to the point that it nearly fell off its perch, but it was eventually successful. Thanks, Everett.
I SO agree about the chocking experience – a scary feeling since you basically can’t breath & you are exhausted at the end!!
Very interesting post. First of all the hawk certainly looks quite similar to the Rough-Legged Hawks we get here…especially in the first photo. The brown ‘freckles’ on the white feathers is quite nice in the last one. Excellent display of it’s wings also! ❤️ Surprising the size of the pellet…you would think they could not expel something that size. I’ve caught a few Snowy Owls regurgitating but nothing that size.
Pellet size varies a lot. And sometimes a pellet comes out as several smaller ones. Thanks, Kathy.