Swainson Hawk

1/640s at f8.0 ISO:1000 Canon EOS-1D X w/800mm, x1.4 converter


Swanson hawk is probably the longest migrant of any North American raptor. The flight from breeding ground to South American pampas in southern Brazil or Argentina can be as long as 14,000 mi (23,000 km). Each migration can last at least two months. The habitat of Swanson hawk consists of open and semi-open country – deserts, grasslands and prairies – in both its breeding and wintering ranges. It favors wild prairie, hay fields, and pastures over wheat fields and alfalfa fields, which may offer its prey too much cover. It requires elevated perches for hunting and a supply of small mammals such as young ground squirrels as prey for its nestlings. The breeding distribution of Swanson hawk is tied very closely to the distribution of various small mammals for this reason. In Saskatchewan, for example, the distribution of Richardson's ground squirrel and Swanson hawk are precisely the same.
About 60 miles S. of Jackson Hole
 
06/01/2018