High Country Life

Falcons and owls connect with humans on an emotional, psychological, and spiritual level in profound ways that are both emotional and spiritual in nature. Furthermore, these birds play an integral part in American Indian culture and art.

Broad-winged forest hawks (commonly referred to as “accipiters”) have evolved morphologically for maneuvering through woodland environments, often ambushing prey hidden among trees in ambush hunting situations.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcons are nature’s swiftest birds and one of the world’s most revered and spectacular predators. Long employed by falconers for hunting smaller birds such as starlings, pigeons and doves as well as bats, small mammals and lizards; falconers use this ancient species for over four millennia as one of their preferred tools.

Its most distinctive hunting technique is known as “stoopid,” wherein it flies upward to high altitude before diving rapidly downward at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour. After years of captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, this species was removed from endangered species lists.

Scientists analyzed video footage to analyze wing shapes during each stage of flight and reconstruct its three-dimensional path. Reconstructed flight paths are color coded according to velocity magnitude – red being for higher velocities.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Birders of all stripes will recognize this large and widespread raptor as it breeds throughout Florida and nests primarily in trees; it will occasionally use cliff ledges and buildings. Some pairs even engage in co-parenting roles by sharing incubation duties as well as hunting duties between themselves.

It’s easy to see why this hawk is one of the most prevalent species in North America: you may spot it circling with broad wings as you drive along a highway or watch from a high perch, keeping an eye out for movement on the ground below. Adult birds tend to feature reddish tails while immature ones have mottled brown backs – both species thrive in wide open habitats as well as human-dominated environments and can often be found at our watchsites frequently between late fall and early spring migrations.

Red-Shoulder Hawk

Red-Shoulder Hawks feed on an array of animals, from small mammals (voles, mice, moles, chipmunks and squirrels), amphibians, reptiles, frogs fish and birds to amphibians and reptiles – often by hovering above open areas before swiftly diving on unsuspecting prey below.

They nest in broad-leaved trees near bodies of water, usually creating cup-shaped nests composed of sticks, twigs, leaves, Spanish moss and lichen. Both male and female birds mate for life while both helping raise chicks that hatch after 28 days.

Red-Shoulder Hawks are an abundant species and do not migrate, yet habitat loss continues to threaten their populations. Find out how climate change will impact Red-Shoulder Hawks and other species by exploring Audubon’s Survival by Degrees project and find out how you can assist.

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl has superb eyesight and hearing. It watches for potential prey from perches before diving down quickly to capture it with its powerful talons.

As with other raptors, Great Horned Owls feature facial disks–groups of feathers on either side of their heads that direct sounds directly into their ears. When a mouse rustles through grass or an hawk flaps its wings in flight overhead, the Great Horned Owl hears them.

These magnificent birds can be found across North America, from deserts to rainforests and every habitat in between. Their wide range and adaptability have earned them a place in culture as symbols of strength, power and prowess; their powerful talons have been estimated as having 10x more crushing power than human hands; when they pounce it’s all over for their prey! Known to hoot and roost in tree hollows or ledges; roadside apple cores provide food sources that serve their young.

Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk is an agile predator with short wings and long tail, enabling it to nimbly maneuver between trees with its ability to perch on narrow spaces between them and hunt on the ground catching songbirds and, when necessary, domestic chickens. Once reviled for killing poultry, today this predator is widely seen as providing natural protection from pest birds.

Male Cooper’s Hawks typically select nest sites while females take the majority of responsibility in creating nests for them to lay three to five pale sky-blue eggs, usually laid during autumn migration or laid by females during incubation (34-36 days for incubation by both). Birdwatchers frequently observe Cooper’s Hawks during autumn migration or at feeders located near bird centers such as World Center for Birds of Prey or Boise Greenbelt.

Bald Eagle

American national birds, the Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) is the official national bird. These large forest raptors feature white heads and wings with prominent barring, black bills with curved tips, bright yellow legs and large nesting cavities among trees, bluffs or tall buildings for nesting purposes.

These birds of prey swoop down from above to hunt fish, rodents and other small to medium-sized vertebrates with incredible eyesight and sharp claws called talons.

Eagles can often be seen soaring for hours on natural wind currents and thermal updrafts, often reaching 10,000 feet and boasting great endurance when hunting. Scavengers such as dead fish washed ashore or fresh roadkill are sources of sustenance for them; immature eagles start out light gray until four to five years old when their adult plumage of white head and tail appears; these birds can be found throughout open country as well as rivers and lakes throughout their range.

Golden Eagle

Golden eagles are among the largest and most majestic North American birds of prey, dominating skies with steady wings as they dive to capture small mammals such as jackrabbits. Fish, reptiles and carrion are also consumed. While ranchers once killed thousands of golden eagles due to fears they would prey upon their livestock, today these beautiful creatures are federally protected birds.

Golden eagles often hunt together, with one bird flying low to scare off prey while another observes from above – this practice is known as “stoooping” (390).

Rough-Winged Hawk

The Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) is an extremely long bird that resembles a feathered torpedo with broad wings and feet, with rough flight and its name from its ability to capture rabbit-like prey such as rabbits. Additionally, this predator may hunt ground squirrels, young ptarmigan, or other birds.

Nesting on cliff ledges or in high trees, this bird typically hovers when hunting small mammals from above, its wings held in a light upward v-shape known as dihedral formation – making its presence rare in nature.

This hawk can easily be mistaken for its slimmer Northern cousin, but with striking white wing patches and more of an owl-like face. Most often seen in open habitats during winter. Although listed as state species of special concern, harassing or killing these hawks is illegal.

Red-Winged Vulture

Vultures are perfectly adapted for soaring flight, featuring large wingspan and light body weight that allow them to ride rising columns of warm air without flapping (Bildstein et al. 2009).

Red patches on its head, neck, and wattle help us easily identify this bird species. In addition, these characteristics help regulate body temperature by increasing blood flow to their heads and necks for dissipating heat through evaporative cooling.

Its primary diet consists of carrion such as livestock carcasses, deer carcasses and dead fish; vocalizations include rasping hisses and grunts. Most often seen over open country, woodlands, desert foothills, trees or cliffs throughout its range and during breeding seasons in winter; breeding can occur both on land as well as trees.

Black Vulture

Black Vultures form lifelong pairs and often return to their nest sites every year, where they lay two grayish-green eggs with dark brown blotches before both parents incubate them for 38-39 days.

These scavengers locate carcasses using vision or smell alone, and can often be found lingering or circling above open areas where they can watch for prey. Their diet typically consists of plant material including decayed fruit and vegetables as well as birds’ eggs or nestlings as well as sea turtle eggs or baby lizards.

Coyotes often can be seen near roads where animals and vehicles collide, and perched on telephone wires in urban settings. Coyotes are opportunistic scavengers who forage in family groups; nestlings often get fed liquefied food by regurgitation while larger youngsters eventually receive solid meals as they grow larger.