Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey

These are ten of the most frequently seen raptors in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA). For positive identification, consult a commercially available bird field book. For additional information about the NCA contact the Bureau of Land Management, Lower Snake River District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705, (208) 384-3300. Red-tailed Hawk Northern Harrier (Buteojamaicensis) Usually soars for long periods without flapping wings (Circuscyaneus) Usually flies low over fields with an undulating flight Broad wings ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Prairie Falcon (Falcomexicanus) Rapid wing beats Faint mustache Light brown (tan) wings and body Long pointed wings Dark brown feathers in the “arm pits” Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: Lightly streaked breast 14 to 20 inches long 30 to 40 inches 1 to 2 pounds 160 to 200 pairs American Kestrel # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 3 to 6 (brownish) early April - late May Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: Adults have • Red tails with many dark bars in the tail • Usually have some white on the breast and white mottled or streaked tail 19 to 25 inches long 48 to 53 inches 1 3/4 to 3 1/2 pounds 70 to 90 pairs 8 to 10 weeks Ferruginous Hawk (Falcosparverius) “Hovers” over fields with rapid wing beats Usually perches on phone wires White body Female: brown wings, reddish streaked breast, reddish brown striped tail pointed wings Male: bluish wings, whitish breast, thick black stripe on end of reddish tail, red buck 8 to 12 inches long 21 to 24 inches 1/4 to 1 pound 30 to 45 pairs (survey incomplete) # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 4 to 5 (white with brown spots) mid April-early May 7 to 8 weeks Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 2 to 5 white with brown spots March - early April 22 to 25 inches long 50 to 60 inches 2 to 5 pounds 20 to 35 pairs Long, narrow body Females: light belly, streaked breast, brown head and back Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: 17 to 24 inches long 48 to 54 inches 3/4 to 1-1/4 pounds 75+ pairs Common Raven Underside wings: white with reddish patches # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: Topside: male and female have white strip on upper tail Immatures: like female, buff belly # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 3 to 9 (white) mid April - mid May 8 to 9 weeks 10 to 11 weeks Dark legs form a V-shaped pattern against white belly long, broad wings Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: # of eggs: (Buteoregalis) Largest hawk in North America Two mustache marks Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: Light underside with dark belly band; body color varies from deep chocolate brown to reddish Males: white underneath with black wing tips, grey head and back 3 to 5 (white and brown blotched) early April - early May 10 to 11 weeks (Corvuscorax) Not a raptor, Largest song bird, Hawklike in flight Large, shiny black with a thick beak Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: Wedge-shaped tail; rounded on the end 21 to 27 inches long 45 to 50 inches 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds 150+ pairs # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 4 to 7 (blue with brown blotches) March - May 9 to 10 weeks Golden Eagle Swainson’s Hawk (Aquilachrysaetos) Raptor Identification Guide (Buteoswainsoni) Spring/summer resident only, winters to Argentina Largest raptor in the NCA Usually soars for long periods without flapping wings for birds commonly seen in the Dark brown wings and body White patches toward the end of the wings and near the base of the tail on immature eagles Broad wings Large rounded tail Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: 30 to 42 inches long 74 to 97 inches 7 to 13 pounds 25 to 30 pairs Turkey Vulture # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 1 to 3 (dull white with brown blotches) early Feb. - mid March Leading edge of wing underside is white, trailing edge is dark (opposite of the Turkey Vulture) Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: Light colored body with dark breast band Tail underside is light colored with dark-barred pattern 19 to 22 inches long 48 to 54 inches 1 1/4 to 2 3/4 pounds 1 to 5 pairs # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 2 to 3 (white spotted with brown) April - May 8 to 11 weeks 15 to 16 weeks Rough-legged Hawk (Cathartesaura) (Buteolagopus) Wintering bird only, spring/summer spent in arctic areas Commonly hovers like a kestrel when hunting Slightly smaller than a golden eagle Soars with wing in a V-shape, rocking or teetering from side to side SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY Featherless, red head Wings have black leading edge and light colored trailing edge, giving a two-toned effect to the underwing Almost black in color 26 to 32 inches long 68 to 72 inches 2 to 5 pounds 1 to 2 pairs Legs completely feathered to the toes Light-colored head and breast with dark belly band White tail with a broad, black terminal band Long tail with rounded end Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: National Conservation Area # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 1 to 3 (white with dark blotches) April 15 to 16 weeks Size: Wingspan: Weight: # nesting in NCA: 19 to 22 inches long 48 to 56 inches 2 1/4 to 3 pounds none (migratory only) # of eggs: Eggs laid: Incubation & fledging: 2 to 6 (white w/brown) June 10 to 11 weeks U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Lower Snake River District • Boise, Idaho