|
|
| |
Quiggly
Quiggly is a Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). He came to us as a nestling after the tree his nest was in was
cut down. During the fall he suffered fractures to both wings and
one leg as well as damage to one eye. All of his fractures have now
healed, but he cannot fly and will never be able to be released.
Due to his injuries, Quiggly was raised by people and so is
imprinted and could never be released because of this, regardless of
the ability to fly. Quiggly is currently a temporary resident
looking for a placement with another educational facility. Though
only a year old, Quiggly does have the characteristic red tail of a
two year old bird. This is because he had to grow in a second set of
tail feathers his first year, due to his first set being lost
while he was in his bandages.
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
Red Tailed Hawks can be found all aver North America,
and as far north as
central Alaska and south to Panama. They are part of the Buteo family
which is made up of the largest soaring hawks. These birds have broad
wings and tails which allow them to soar over open areas and they can
often be found circling over fields in search of food. Other members of
the Buteo family found in Washington include the Swainson’s Hawk, the Rough Legged Hawk, the
Ferruginous Hawk and the Red Shouldered Hawk.
Red Tailed Hawks typically weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. There is no
physical difference between males and females other than that the females
tend to be about one third larger than males. Adult birds are typically
dark brown on their backs and on the tops of their wings. Their
undersides are generally light with markings on their wings that can be
described as a dash followed by a comma located near the shoulder and
extending out toward the primary feathers. Adults may also show a light
patch of feathering on their chests, commonly referred to as a sunburst.
Immature Red Tailed Hawks resemble the adults but their tails are brown
with stripes. They will get their red tail with the first molt at one
year of age. Hawks are very well adapted to locate prey from great distances. Their
eyesight is at least eight times more powerful than that of humans and
if a hawk were to stand at one end of a football field he would be able
to see a grasshopper jump across the end zone on the opposite end with
ease.
Red Tailed Hawks are opportunistic hunters and will eat animals
as diverse as rabbits, snakes, lizards, insects and other birds,
although 85% - 90% of their diet is made up of small rodents.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
