A Range of Swainson's Hawk Images

Swainson's Hawks are in high gear these days with breeding. Most are past the egg laying stage and are feeding young ones in the nest or helping them learn to fly and hunt.  These hawks spend our winter months in places like Argentina and return to Utah around mid- to late April. I discover Swainson's Hawk nests nearly every few days as I do my daily commute to work and run errands around town. I've had a few encounters with some handsome and beautiful Swainson's recently so I thought I'd share some of the images of these awesome raptors.

Most large (buteo-type) hawks have two basic plumages, juvenile and adult. Swainson's Hawks, however, have three--juvenile, sub-adult, and adult. Swainson's Hawk adults also show slight differences between male and female. That is not typically the case for large hawks. The images I've captured in recent days include birds of all three morphs (light, intermediate, and dark), all three ages (juvenile, subadult, and adult), and male and female.

Light Morph Juvenile Swainson's Hawk Near Fairfield, UT

Light Morph Juvenile Swainson's Hawk Near Fairfield, UT

Male Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Western Kingbird in Lehi, UT
Males tend to show gray rather than brown cheeks

Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Western Kingbird in Lehi, UT

Male Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT
Males tend to show gray rather than brown cheeks

Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT

Female Dark Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT
Females have a chestnut colored head and cheeks

Female Dark Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT
Females have a chestnut colored head and cheeks

Female Dark Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT
Females have a chestnut colored head and cheeks

Male Intermediate Morph (note gray cheeks) and Female Dark Morph Adult Swainson's Hawks in Lehi, UT

Subadult Swainson's Hawk in Taylorsville, UT

Female Intermediate Morph Swainson's Hawk in Lehi, UT

Male Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Barn Swallow in Pleasant Grove, UT

Male Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Barn Swallow in Pleasant Grove, UT

Subadult Swainson's Hawk in Taylorsville, UT

Subadult Swainson's Hawk in Taylorsville, UT

Subadult Swainson's Hawk in Taylorsville, UT

Swainson's Hawk Chick in Nest in Lehi, UT