North America’s largest and most impressive buteo.
This is a photo from my archives that I published on my blog back on September 2, 2011. I’m posting it again because few current readers have seen it and because I rarely have a chance at Ferruginous Hawks in flight so the image means a lot to me.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The hawk had just taken off from a wooden post but it gained elevation quickly so the perch is out of frame in the photo. It took off toward me and began to bank almost immediately which gave me a corner to corner composition that I like very much. A turn of the head provided a good look at the face and a catch light in the eye and one of those well-lit feet has blood on a toe. I also like the somewhat mottled and streaky background rather than just homogenous sky.
And man, just look at that barrel chest! Ferruginous hawks are the largest, most powerful and grandest of all North American buteos and that massive, muscular chest is one of the reasons why. These 3.5 lb. hawks regularly prey on jackrabbits that can approach 10 lbs and kick like the devil with their long and powerful hind legs when attacked so there’s good reason for all their muscle mass.
I used to see many more Ferruginous Hawks in my area than I do now. Significant declines in their populations in both Canada and the U. S. have been documented and that’s one of the many reasons I’m an enthusiastic supporter of HawkWatch International. HWI’s Great Basin Raptor Nest Surveys document and study nesting raptors, including Ferruginous Hawks, throughout northwest Utah and northeast Nevada.
We have to be knowledgeable about them to protect them.
Ron
Addendum: Blog followers who are also bird photographers will likely note that eight years ago I was already using unusually fast shutter speeds. In the past I’ve mentioned several reasons for doing so but here’s another one I don’t believe I’ve brought up in this context before. I have essential tremors in my hands which makes them shake when I get nervous or excited and my tendency for “buck fever” when I have a chance at a potentially spectacular image can ruin an otherwise great photo.
Shaking hands almost guarantees soft images when they’re taken at slow shutter speeds so I opt for a quick shutter to minimize softness, especially for birds in flight and for behavior shots.
That is one gorgeous shot, Ron! A good reason to use fast shutter speed, too.
Because of my love of raptors and your amazing blog, I’m going to be cleaning mews on Tuesday at a local raptor rescue (Hawks Aloft). So thank you for all that you do.
Ha, good for you, Arwen!
And I mean that sincerely since I suspect you know what you’re getting into. Besides the down and dirty work (cleaning mews for example) working for wildlife rescue/rehab organizations can be a heartbreaking experience and everyone who does it has a giant heart to break (by definition). The reward is making a difference for your birds whenever possible and getting to know them and that can be huge for folks like us who love birds.
You’re joining the ranks of many of my readers and commenters – the list is too long to mention names but I admire every last one of them, and now you.
Thank you. I’m excited to go over this morning. Bonus? It’s less than a mile so I’ll be walking over. Lol
What a beauty — that big barrel chest is really something!
Thanks, Marty.
What a stunning photo of this majestic and marvellous bird.
Sigh on the tremour front. I too have to make adjustments because of them. And have had to walk/wobble away from some things where adjustments are insufficient.
Thanks, EC. Watching me try to eat soup ain’t pretty…
Beautiful, Haley’s favorite bird. We saw many on the way to Wheeler Peak and Lehman Caves in Utah/Nevada.
It’s been too long since I’ve been to GBNP. I’ll have to remedy that. Thanks for the tip, April.
Ron, what a great photo of this spectacular Ferruginous Hawk in flight. What a thrill for you to have seen one in person as well as getting such a great shot. I feel fortunate to have seen this bird through your eyes and thank you for that.
Thanks very much, Alice.
Another one of yours that is now my fave. There are dozens 🙂
I have to learn how to identify these better in the wild. I have never seen one fly wild. Thanks.
Thank you, Art.
For me Ferrugs may be the most easily identifiable buteo, even from a distance, because of their white chest which really stands out and because of their large size. The dark morph doesn’t have a white chest but the vast majority of Ferrugs are light morphs like this one.
I sympathize about the tremors. Irritating!
I work at the California Raptor Center as a volunteer (17 years). For a long time we had a non-releasable Ferruginous, we called “him” Thor. He had flown into the engine of a train in Nevada heading to CA. When the train next stopped, the engineer went to scoop what he thought was the dead hawk from the glass, and the bird grabbed him by the face. We used to say the man went off in an ambulance and the bird in a rescue truck. Thor’s wing was too badly broken for flight, so we kept him. He had his “druthers,” some handlers he liked or tolerated, some he refused to work with. wouldn’t step on the fist. I was one of the former until my essential tremor got worse, and then he refused to work with me. Thor died about 5 years ago, and we learned that “he” was a “she.” Too late to rename.
Sallie, I think Thor is a perfect name for a Ferrug, no matter the sex.
Loved your story and it’s very interesting to know how Thor reacted to your tremors. That must have been frustrating for you.
That is a fascinating story. I love that Thor retained her feistiness even after the trauma of hitting a train. It must have hurt like hell when your tremors took something else away from you.
Actually what hurt like hell was how she chose to tell me. Sank her talons in my, er, chest! At the Raptor Center, we have about ten “taming” birds we can work with. So I wasn’t birdless.
Ouch…
BIG ouch.
Truly a beautiful bird…you can see why ‘regalis’ fits this bird so well. It is not a bird I have seen living in WI. In regards to your ‘buck fever’, I too have that affliction too many times and also because of the lens weight after a length of time. I have taken to shooting in AV after reading your many comments on your use of it and definitely see an improvement away from softness. Owe you a big ‘thank you’ !
That’s wonderful to hear, Kathy! I’m glad it worked for you and thanks for letting me know.
Excellent! 🙂 Beautiful and powerful hawk! We occasionally see one but not very often. You really captured the colors of both back and belly – a huge help in identification for me. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a dark morph……..
Judy, I’ve photographed dark morphs several times but only rarely in flight. Given where you live and how tuned in to birds you are I’m slightly surprised you don’t see this species more often.
Think many raptors are flying so high above the “hole” we live in I don’t notice or identify unless they’re “coming in” 😉 The addendum is VERY useful information for me also!
Great image, Ron! I usually saw them roosting or flying at a distance. When I lived in the mountains of New Mexico I had one fly right up to our wall of windows and this caused me to really appreciate how large and magnificent they are.
Wow, that must have been something to see through a window and up close, Ken!
Beautiful photo Ron. Have only seen one once and did not have a chance to view long enough to realize how big that chest is and what a powerful bird they are. Thanks for sharing this.
They’re truly spectacular raptors, Everett. Thanks.