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

Western Kingbirds Breed Abundantly in Utah

I couldn't believe what I was seeing the first time I noticed a Western Kingbird about four years ago. I couldn't believe I had lived in Utah for so many years without noticing such a colorful and fascinating bird. However, after seeing them in abundance the first year I noticed them I stopped lifting my binoculars and camera lens for them--they became commonplace. That changed a couple of years ago when I noticed we had a family of Western Kingbirds nesting on a power pole near our home. I've now watched a couple of generations come from the same nest and they are back again this spring.

Western Kingbirds come up from Central America to breed across the western United States during the spring and summer months--about May through the end of August/early September. They leave their breeding grounds relatively early and are generally not seen in the western states from about mid-September through early May. They tend to be seen around farms, meadows, and along fence rows near dry open fields with scattered trees and bushes. They also show up in urban areas with open spaces. They are members of the flycatcher family and are often seen hunting insects from fences and small bushes and trees along roadsides. They are about 9 inches long with a wingspan of about 16 inches. They have gray heads and chests, thick dark bills, yellow bellies, and dark tails with white edges. They can be aggressive and often harass large raptors.

Below is a selection of my favorite images showing these birds in various situations. I'll add a few comments between images. The first one was taken under cloudy skies so the detail isn't as strong as I like, but I love the pose, the nice yellow belly, and a common perch--on a fence near open fields loaded with insects.

Western Kingbird in Utah County, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Below are two images of a family of Western Kingbirds at their nest site near my home. I believe it is the same pair using the nest each year. As I was watching and photographing these birds the parents were catching wasps, bees, and grasshoppers and bringing them to their young ones. The parent below (with the longer tail) was passing food to the young ones (shorter tails).

Another Generation of Western Kingbirds From My Neighborhood Nest in Pleasant Grove, UT
(Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Another Generation of Western Kingbirds From My Neighborhood Nest in Pleasant Grove, UT
(Photo by Jeff Cooper)

This bird was focused on some insect activity below its perch. I like the curious and focused look of the bird.

Western Kingbird in Utah County, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

The next group of images attempts to capture these fascinating birds in flight while carrying food toward a nearby nest. All of their typical field marks from head to tail can be seen in the images.

Western Kingbird in Utah County, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird Carrying Food (bee) to Young in Nest--Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird Carrying Food (bee) to Young in Nest--Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird Carrying Food (bee) to Young in Nest--Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird Carrying Food (bee) to Young in Nest--Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Here is one of the young waiting for the parents to bring it a nice juicy bee or insect.

Fledgling Western Kingbird Near Nest in Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

I looked down at the grass below me as I observed the hunting and feeding behavior of the birds above. I quickly saw what was a great food source for these birds. Clovers were abundant in the grass and bees were busy among the clover.

Honey Bee Below Western Kingbird Nest. in Highland, UT
 Adult Kingbirds were catching and feeding these bees to their young ones at a nest site.

Honey Bee Below Western Kingbird Nest. in Highland, UT
 Adult Kingbirds were catching and feeding these bees to their young ones at a nest site.

More photos of Western Kingbirds perched around agricultural and open fields around Utah County, Utah.

Western Kingbird in Lakeshore, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird on Hunting Perch Below Utah State Flight Park in Lehi, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird on Hunting Perch Below Utah State Flight Park in Lehi, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird on Hunting Perch Below Utah State Flight Park in Lehi, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Western Kingbird on Hunting Perch Below Utah State Flight Park in Lehi, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)