I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and has the opportunity to get some birding in after “eating the bird!”.  Two days ago my local bald eagles had a small convention … enjoying the morning sun while blocked from the strong NW wind. Remember, as the temperature falls and the winds rise in the winter, raptors in particular will almost always perch where they are both warmed by the sun, but protected from the cold NW winds.

The third Bald Eagle is an immature bird likely two years of age or younger. In the third year Bald Eagles start to get more white markings; normally by the fourth year an eagle has the classic white head and tail.

What is unusual about this bird species? (not the individual, but the type of bird, a Rough-Legged Hawk) I watched this hawk hunt early yesterday morning just north of Duluth during its migration down from the Hudson Bay / Arctic region. Scroll down beneath this image for the answer to my question.

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If I am not mistaken there are only three raptor species (other than owls) in North America that have feathers down right to their talons … Rough-Legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, and Golden Eagles. These birds breed in locations where even in the summer, snow and extremely cold temperatures are not unheard occurrences. Thus, all three species have evolved to have feathers down to their talons to keep warm. The above image shows feathers very much reaching down to the talons.

If I am lucky this individual will stick around hunting near my house for approximately the next month. I have seen this bird two days in a row, and the habitat it has chosen is great for hunting small mammals. However, when the snow covers the ground the hawk will move south (most hawks are not able to hunt effectively through the snow).

Hanging Out and Take-Off