Steve Shaluta Photography
Raptors, Game Birds & Scavengers

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$Scientific Name: Falco spaverious \n\nAppearance: smallest falcon in North America, male and female have very different plumage. Male has slate-blue wings, slate-blue cap on head, black vertical stripes ("mustaches") under eyes over white cheeks, the back is rust with black bars, tail is rusty red with black terminal band and a single white with black barred feather on each side of the tail, breast color varies from solid rust color to white with streaks of brown. Female is rust colored with black bars on wings, tail and back, head is similar to male pattern but paler, breast cream with white streaks. \n\nSize: Weight ranges from 3.5 - 5.3 ounces, females are larger than the males. Body length ranges from 8 - 11 inches, wingspan is 20 - 24 inches. \n\nRange: widespread and common throughout North America south of the arctic tree line in most habitats. They prefer more open country although they will hunt open woodlands as well. Northern populations are migratory with some birds moving down through Central America, although the species remains abundant in the southern US during winter. \n\nFood Preferences: small birds, insects, small lizards & snakes, mice, moles shrews, other small mammals. \n\nHunting Technique: Usually seen hovering or sitting on exposed perches like utility wires, fence posts, bare tree limbs, females tend to hunt in more open areas than the males, especially in winter. \n\nHabitat: Open or partly open habitats with scattered trees, also cultivated and urban areas, also in the desert. \n\nNesting: nest in tree cavities, although they will readily accept nest boxes. They will also readily use any holes in cliff faces, cactus, crevices in buildings that are available. \n\nHabits: active flight is light and buoyant, altho when in pursuit of a bird they will chase in a direct rapid flight. Glides on flat wings and is the only falcon in the US that will hover during hunting. \n\nStatus: Common throughout its' range.$ $Scientific Name: Falco spaverious \n\nAppearance: smallest falcon in North America, male and female have very different plumage. Male has slate-blue wings, slate-blue cap on head, black vertical stripes ("mustaches") under eyes over white cheeks, the back is rust with black bars, tail is rusty red with black terminal band and a single white with black barred feather on each side of the tail, breast color varies from solid rust color to white with streaks of brown. Female is rust colored with black bars on wings, tail and back, head is similar to male pattern but paler, breast cream with white streaks. \n\nSize: Weight ranges from 3.5 - 5.3 ounces, females are larger than the males. Body length ranges from 8 - 11 inches, wingspan is 20 - 24 inches. \n\nRange: widespread and common throughout North America south of the arctic tree line in most habitats. They prefer more open country although they will hunt open woodlands as well. Northern populations are migratory with some birds moving down through Central America, although the species remains abundant in the southern US during winter. \n\nFood Preferences: small birds, insects, small lizards & snakes, mice, moles shrews, other small mammals. \n\nHunting Technique: Usually seen hovering or sitting on exposed perches like utility wires, fence posts, bare tree limbs, females tend to hunt in more open areas than the males, especially in winter. \n\nHabitat: Open or partly open habitats with scattered trees, also cultivated and urban areas, also in the desert. \n\nNesting: nest in tree cavities, although they will readily accept nest boxes. They will also readily use any holes in cliff faces, cactus, crevices in buildings that are available. \n\nHabits: active flight is light and buoyant, altho when in pursuit of a bird they will chase in a direct rapid flight. Glides on flat wings and is the only falcon in the US that will hover during hunting. \n\nStatus: Common throughout its' range.$

$Scientific Name: Tyto alba \n\nAppearance: a medium sized owl with no ear tufts, slender and linear in overall form. Back and upper side of wings are cinnamon colored with flecks of white, black and grey, underside can vary from white to cinnamon, breast is often flecked with dark grey. There are two phases (or morphs) within the species: the white-breasted, almost pure white underneath kind (like Twister in the picture above) and the darker orange-breasted phase, where the breast is a dark cinnamon similar to the back and wings. The darker phase also has more dark on the face as well, almost looking as if someone penciled in some extra strokes along the edges of the facial disk. Plumage variation seems to have nothing to do with age, sex or geographic locale. The long legs and toes are unfeathered. \n\nCommon Name: Barn Owl, Ghost Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Orange Owl, Spirit Owl, Queen of the Night (really!), Stone Owl, Sweetheart Owl, White Owl. \n\nSize: a little over 17 inches tall, wingspan of 42.7 inches, beak averages an inch long. Has an unusually long tarsus (the area on the leg just above the toes) measures on average 2.6 inches. Females are slightly larger then the males overall. \n\nRange: North America, although this family of owls is widespread throughout the world numbering 17 species in all, and all look very similar to the ones we see in the US. \n\nFood Preferences: almost exclusively rodents, although supplemental prey can include sparrows, starlings, frogs, moths, and lizards. \n\nHunting Technique: soaring about 10 feet off the ground over open habitat, uses hearing ability to locate prey, vision used mostly just for avoiding other objects. \n\nHabitat: Can be found nesting and roosting on high ledges in barns, stone walls, silos, farm outbuildings, abandoned or empty houses, water towers, belfries, mine shafts, large tree cavities, institutional buildings, granaries, quarries, or even under roadway or railroad bridges (and that's the short list!) Barn owl nests have also been found in tunnels they have excavated in a tall steep stream banks. They like to have an open area to hunt in such as an orchard, field or large clearing. \n\nNesting: 5 - 7 eggs, female does most of the brooding, male brings food. Incubation lasts 30 - 34 days, young are hatched out semi-downy, immobile and eyes are closed. Fully fledged out in 52 - 56 days. \n\nHabits: strongly nocturnal, which often keeps them from being seen by humans. They become active starting at sundown, however if they have chicks in the nest they will also hunt during the day to keep up with food demands of the babies. A nest or roost site is most often identified first by the "whitewash" or urates below the area. Permanent resident year round.$ $Scientific Name: Tyto alba \n\nAppearance: a medium sized owl with no ear tufts, slender and linear in overall form. Back and upper side of wings are cinnamon colored with flecks of white, black and grey, underside can vary from white to cinnamon, breast is often flecked with dark grey. There are two phases (or morphs) within the species: the white-breasted, almost pure white underneath kind (like Twister in the picture above) and the darker orange-breasted phase, where the breast is a dark cinnamon similar to the back and wings. The darker phase also has more dark on the face as well, almost looking as if someone penciled in some extra strokes along the edges of the facial disk. Plumage variation seems to have nothing to do with age, sex or geographic locale. The long legs and toes are unfeathered. \n\nCommon Name: Barn Owl, Ghost Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Orange Owl, Spirit Owl, Queen of the Night (really!), Stone Owl, Sweetheart Owl, White Owl. \n\nSize: a little over 17 inches tall, wingspan of 42.7 inches, beak averages an inch long. Has an unusually long tarsus (the area on the leg just above the toes) measures on average 2.6 inches. Females are slightly larger then the males overall. \n\nRange: North America, although this family of owls is widespread throughout the world numbering 17 species in all, and all look very similar to the ones we see in the US. \n\nFood Preferences: almost exclusively rodents, although supplemental prey can include sparrows, starlings, frogs, moths, and lizards. \n\nHunting Technique: soaring about 10 feet off the ground over open habitat, uses hearing ability to locate prey, vision used mostly just for avoiding other objects. \n\nHabitat: Can be found nesting and roosting on high ledges in barns, stone walls, silos, farm outbuildings, abandoned or empty houses, water towers, belfries, mine shafts, large tree cavities, institutional buildings, granaries, quarries, or even under roadway or railroad bridges (and that's the short list!) Barn owl nests have also been found in tunnels they have excavated in a tall steep stream banks. They like to have an open area to hunt in such as an orchard, field or large clearing. \n\nNesting: 5 - 7 eggs, female does most of the brooding, male brings food. Incubation lasts 30 - 34 days, young are hatched out semi-downy, immobile and eyes are closed. Fully fledged out in 52 - 56 days. \n\nHabits: strongly nocturnal, which often keeps them from being seen by humans. They become active starting at sundown, however if they have chicks in the nest they will also hunt during the day to keep up with food demands of the babies. A nest or roost site is most often identified first by the "whitewash" or urates below the area. Permanent resident year round.$

$Scientific Name: Beauteo platypterus \n\nAppearance: head, back and upper surface of wings are a uniform dark brown, underparts are white with medium to heavy rufous barring. Tail is dark with 2 white bands. Crow-sized. \n\nSize: weight ranges from 14 - 17 ounces, males are smaller than the females. Wingspan ranges 32-36 inches, body measures from top of head to the tail averages 14- 18 inches. \n\nRange: Stays east of the Great Plains, breeds across southern Canada down to eastern Texas and Florida. Winters throughout Central & South America. Likes dense deciduous woodlands. \n\nFood Preferences: Frogs, toads, chipmunks, mice, snakes, lizards, small birds, red squirrels, shrews, small rabbits, caterpillars, insects. \n\nHunting Technique: Hunts from a tree or other perch, very opportunistic. \n\nBreeding: Aerial courtship, the pair flap, sour in circles darting at and passing close to each other. Monogamous. \n\nNesting: usually in the crotch of a deciduous tree, sometimes in a conifer. Nest is built fresh each year and usually takes 3 - 4 weeks to construct. Sometimes will use an abandoned squirrel nest or other hawk nest. Nest is lined with lichen, inner bark strips, evergreen sprigs and green leaves. \n\nEggs: 2-3 white or bluish white eggs, marked with brown. \n\nChicks: Male and female incubate and care for chicks, incubation lasts 28-32 days, chicks are hatched out helpless, unfeathered and unable to focus. Fledging takes place 35 days later. \n\nStatus: Common throughout their northern range April through September, stay in Central and South America for the rest of the year. \n\nNOTES: Broadwing hawks are highly migratory and form huge flocks for the Fall migration. These flocks are called "kettles" due to their contained swirling and mixing behavior. Kettles are common during migration because these birds use thermal updrafts to lift them high in the air - thermals can rise up over a mile! The birds ride these thermals up high, look south for the next one, and when they have all$

Immature male Coopers Hawk, probably less than a year old.

$Scientific Name: Aquilla chrysaetos\n\nOther Names: Mountain eagle, American war bird, calumet eagle, king of birds, royal eagle, bird of Jupiter, among others.\n\nAppearance: final adult plumage comes in the 6th year of life, up until then the plumage is constantly changing. Overall and regardless of age, the Golden Eagle has a handsome large, powerful build, long strong legs and feet that are about the size of a human hand. The nape of the neck is covered with light tan feathers (giving a golden appearance) the rest of the body is a dark, chocolate brown. Eyes are a dark brown and very clear. Bill and talons are black, yellow cere. Mature Goldens generally have a dark tail with grey bands and large dark terminal band, although there are some adults that have some vestiges of white in their tails. Immature Goldens (less than 5 years old) have a large white band on their tail from their rump to the dark terminal outer band, the size of the white band and the extent of the dark mottling gives an indication of the birdâ€™s age. A true master in the air, Golden Eagles can soar gracefully for hours, even in strong winds that make other birds find shelter. Wings are long and rounded, wingbeats are slow and powerful. Legs are feathered down to the toes.\n\nSize: Very large, soars with wings flat. Males weigh on average 8-10 pounds, females weigh on average 9-13 pounds. Length is 30 - 40 inches long, wing span is between 6 ½ to 7 ½ feet, females average larger than the males.\n\nRange & Habitat: prefers mountainous areas, above 1500 feet. In the east, the Golden Eagle can be found from Quebec southward down the mountain chains to Tennessee and North Carolina, also found in mountainous regions of the western US and Canada. \n\nFood Preferences: favorite food is rabbits, also very fond of grouse, marmots, ground squirrels, ptarmigans. Will eat fresh carrion. Has been known to eat small mammals, snakes, turtles, great horned owls, cranes, geese, deer, antelope, and even occasionally inse$ $Scientific Name: Aquilla chrysaetos\n\nOther Names: Mountain eagle, American war bird, calumet eagle, king of birds, royal eagle, bird of Jupiter, among others.\n\nAppearance: final adult plumage comes in the 6th year of life, up until then the plumage is constantly changing. Overall and regardless of age, the Golden Eagle has a handsome large, powerful build, long strong legs and feet that are about the size of a human hand. The nape of the neck is covered with light tan feathers (giving a golden appearance) the rest of the body is a dark, chocolate brown. Eyes are a dark brown and very clear. Bill and talons are black, yellow cere. Mature Goldens generally have a dark tail with grey bands and large dark terminal band, although there are some adults that have some vestiges of white in their tails. Immature Goldens (less than 5 years old) have a large white band on their tail from their rump to the dark terminal outer band, the size of the white band and the extent of the dark mottling gives an indication of the birdâ€™s age. A true master in the air, Golden Eagles can soar gracefully for hours, even in strong winds that make other birds find shelter. Wings are long and rounded, wingbeats are slow and powerful. Legs are feathered down to the toes.\n\nSize: Very large, soars with wings flat. Males weigh on average 8-10 pounds, females weigh on average 9-13 pounds. Length is 30 - 40 inches long, wing span is between 6 ½ to 7 ½ feet, females average larger than the males.\n\nRange & Habitat: prefers mountainous areas, above 1500 feet. In the east, the Golden Eagle can be found from Quebec southward down the mountain chains to Tennessee and North Carolina, also found in mountainous regions of the western US and Canada. \n\nFood Preferences: favorite food is rabbits, also very fond of grouse, marmots, ground squirrels, ptarmigans. Will eat fresh carrion. Has been known to eat small mammals, snakes, turtles, great horned owls, cranes, geese, deer, antelope, and even occasionally inse$

$Description: Great Horned Owls can vary in color from a reddish brown to a grey or black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be "horns" which are sometimes referred to as "ear tufts" but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10 to 20% larger than males.\n\nSize: Length 46-63.5cm (18-25") Wingspan 91-152cm (36-60") Weight 900-1800g (32-63.5 oz)\n\nHabits: Activity generally begins at dusk, but in some regions, may be seen in late afternoon or early morning. Both sexes may be very aggressive towards intruders when nesting.\n\nVoice: Great Horned Owls have a large repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks. The male's resonant territorial call "hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" can be heard over several miles during a still night. Both sexes hoot, but males have a lower-pitched voice than females. They give a growling "krrooo-oo" or screaming note when attacking intruders. Other sounds include a "whaaa whaaaaaa-a-a-aarrk" from disturbed birds, a catlike "MEEE-OWww", barks, hair-raising shrieks, coos, and beak snapping. Some calls are ventriloquial. Most calling occurs from dusk to about midnight and then again just before dawn.\n\nHunting & Food: Great Horned Owls hunt by perching on snags and poles and watching for prey, or by gliding slowly above the ground. From high perches they dive down to the ground with wings folded, before snatching prey. Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by its large talons. A Great Horned Owl may take prey 2 to 3 times heavier than itself. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wading into water to snatch frogs and fish. They have been known to walk into chicken coops to take domestic fowl. Rodents and small rabbits can be swallowed whole while larger prey are carried off and ripped apart at feeding perches or at the nest. Birds are often plucked first, and legs and wing tips discarded. An extremely wide range of prey species (at least 253 identified) are captured, but rabbits and hares are its preferred prey. Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents, squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, domestic cats and dogs, shrews, moles, muskrats, and bats. Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron, ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms, spiders, and road killed animals.\nPellets are very large, about 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3- 4") long and 3.8 cm (1.5") thick. Pellets are dark greyish-black and compact. Skulls as wide as 3 cm (1.2") are regurgitated whole. Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating.$ $Description: Great Horned Owls can vary in color from a reddish brown to a grey or black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be "horns" which are sometimes referred to as "ear tufts" but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10 to 20% larger than males.\n\nSize: Length 46-63.5cm (18-25") Wingspan 91-152cm (36-60") Weight 900-1800g (32-63.5 oz)\n\nHabits: Activity generally begins at dusk, but in some regions, may be seen in late afternoon or early morning. Both sexes may be very aggressive towards intruders when nesting.\n\nVoice: Great Horned Owls have a large repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks. The male's resonant territorial call "hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" can be heard over several miles during a still night. Both sexes hoot, but males have a lower-pitched voice than females. They give a growling "krrooo-oo" or screaming note when attacking intruders. Other sounds include a "whaaa whaaaaaa-a-a-aarrk" from disturbed birds, a catlike "MEEE-OWww", barks, hair-raising shrieks, coos, and beak snapping. Some calls are ventriloquial. Most calling occurs from dusk to about midnight and then again just before dawn.\n\nHunting & Food: Great Horned Owls hunt by perching on snags and poles and watching for prey, or by gliding slowly above the ground. From high perches they dive down to the ground with wings folded, before snatching prey. Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by its large talons. A Great Horned Owl may take prey 2 to 3 times heavier than itself. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wading into water to snatch frogs and fish. They have been known to walk into chicken coops to take domestic fowl. Rodents and small rabbits can be swallowed whole while larger prey are carried off and ripped apart at feeding perches or at the nest. Birds are often plucked first, and legs and wing tips discarded. An extremely wide range of prey species (at least 253 identified) are captured, but rabbits and hares are its preferred prey. Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents, squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, domestic cats and dogs, shrews, moles, muskrats, and bats. Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron, ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms, spiders, and road killed animals.\nPellets are very large, about 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3- 4") long and 3.8 cm (1.5") thick. Pellets are dark greyish-black and compact. Skulls as wide as 3 cm (1.2") are regurgitated whole. Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating.$ $Description: Great Horned Owls can vary in color from a reddish brown to a grey or black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be "horns" which are sometimes referred to as "ear tufts" but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10 to 20% larger than males.\n\nSize: Length 46-63.5cm (18-25") Wingspan 91-152cm (36-60") Weight 900-1800g (32-63.5 oz)\n\nHabits: Activity generally begins at dusk, but in some regions, may be seen in late afternoon or early morning. Both sexes may be very aggressive towards intruders when nesting.\n\nVoice: Great Horned Owls have a large repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks. The male's resonant territorial call "hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" can be heard over several miles during a still night. Both sexes hoot, but males have a lower-pitched voice than females. They give a growling "krrooo-oo" or screaming note when attacking intruders. Other sounds include a "whaaa whaaaaaa-a-a-aarrk" from disturbed birds, a catlike "MEEE-OWww", barks, hair-raising shrieks, coos, and beak snapping. Some calls are ventriloquial. Most calling occurs from dusk to about midnight and then again just before dawn.\n\nHunting & Food: Great Horned Owls hunt by perching on snags and poles and watching for prey, or by gliding slowly above the ground. From high perches they dive down to the ground with wings folded, before snatching prey. Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by its large talons. A Great Horned Owl may take prey 2 to 3 times heavier than itself. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wading into water to snatch frogs and fish. They have been known to walk into chicken coops to take domestic fowl. Rodents and small rabbits can be swallowed whole while larger prey are carried off and ripped apart at feeding perches or at the nest. Birds are often plucked first, and legs and wing tips discarded. An extremely wide range of prey species (at least 253 identified) are captured, but rabbits and hares are its preferred prey. Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents, squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, domestic cats and dogs, shrews, moles, muskrats, and bats. Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron, ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms, spiders, and road killed animals.\nPellets are very large, about 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3- 4") long and 3.8 cm (1.5") thick. Pellets are dark greyish-black and compact. Skulls as wide as 3 cm (1.2") are regurgitated whole. Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating.$ $Description: Great Horned Owls can vary in color from a reddish brown to a grey or black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be "horns" which are sometimes referred to as "ear tufts" but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10 to 20% larger than males.\n\nSize: Length 46-63.5cm (18-25") Wingspan 91-152cm (36-60") Weight 900-1800g (32-63.5 oz)\n\nHabits: Activity generally begins at dusk, but in some regions, may be seen in late afternoon or early morning. Both sexes may be very aggressive towards intruders when nesting.\n\nVoice: Great Horned Owls have a large repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks. The male's resonant territorial call "hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" can be heard over several miles during a still night. Both sexes hoot, but males have a lower-pitched voice than females. They give a growling "krrooo-oo" or screaming note when attacking intruders. Other sounds include a "whaaa whaaaaaa-a-a-aarrk" from disturbed birds, a catlike "MEEE-OWww", barks, hair-raising shrieks, coos, and beak snapping. Some calls are ventriloquial. Most calling occurs from dusk to about midnight and then again just before dawn.\n\nHunting & Food: Great Horned Owls hunt by perching on snags and poles and watching for prey, or by gliding slowly above the ground. From high perches they dive down to the ground with wings folded, before snatching prey. Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by its large talons. A Great Horned Owl may take prey 2 to 3 times heavier than itself. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wading into water to snatch frogs and fish. They have been known to walk into chicken coops to take domestic fowl. Rodents and small rabbits can be swallowed whole while larger prey are carried off and ripped apart at feeding perches or at the nest. Birds are often plucked first, and legs and wing tips discarded. An extremely wide range of prey species (at least 253 identified) are captured, but rabbits and hares are its preferred prey. Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents, squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, domestic cats and dogs, shrews, moles, muskrats, and bats. Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron, ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms, spiders, and road killed animals.\nPellets are very large, about 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3- 4") long and 3.8 cm (1.5") thick. Pellets are dark greyish-black and compact. Skulls as wide as 3 cm (1.2") are regurgitated whole. Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating.$

$Scientific Name: Asio otus \n\nSize: about 15 inches. Wingspan is around 36 - 42 inches and the average weight is between 7 - 8 ounces. The Long Eared Owl is sort of the intermediate between the Great Horned Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl in size. It's "ear tufts" are set closer to the center of the head than other horned owls, and it's eyes are a bright golden-orange. Feet and beak are relatively small in proportion to the rest of the body. \n\nRange: Long Eared owls are distributed throughout the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, in tropical America, and locally in Africa and Madagascar. \n\nHabitat: prefers conifers, and mixed conniferous/deciduous woodlands, especially near water. Also can be found in parks, woodlands, orchards, and farm woodlands. \n\nFood preferences: small rodents and birds, some amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects. \n\nMating: Monogamous. \n\nNesting: Usually in abandoned nests - especially crow, also hawks, squirrels, magpies, herons, and ravens. Sometimes will nest in loose colonies. Female selects the site and does all the brooding, fed by the male. Rarely nests on the ground. Nest sites are more often 25 to 35 feet above the ground. Family stays as a unit well after the young have fledged (sometimes until late Autumn), then young disperse to establish new territories. \n\nEggs: 4 - 5 white eggs, about 1.6" in length. Young hatch asynchronously. \n\nAverage Lifespan: Long lived. In captivity, some records note lifespans of 25 - 27 years. Expect 1/3 of that in the wild. \n\nHunting Technique: Flying while hunting. \n\nStatus: uncommon in West Virginia, mostly observed in higher altitudes. One recorded nest was found in Nicholas County (Bukelew & Hall, WV Breeding Bird Atlas, Pittsburgh Press) and some winter migration counts show individuals in Monongalia, Grant, Morgan, Summers, Upshur, and Webster counties (Venable, Birds of Prey, WVU Extension Service). \n\n\nNotes: These birds are very nocturnal and firmly believe in daytime concealment when roosting. According to most distribution maps, this species is one of the most common in all the planet, close in distribution to the Barn Owl. It is unusual for owls to establish colonies, but Long Eared Owls like company. Varied calls include a series of drawn out hoots (one roughly every 2 seconds) also short soft "barks" and drawn out wails.$ $Scientific Name: Asio otus \n\nSize: about 15 inches. Wingspan is around 36 - 42 inches and the average weight is between 7 - 8 ounces. The Long Eared Owl is sort of the intermediate between the Great Horned Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl in size. It's "ear tufts" are set closer to the center of the head than other horned owls, and it's eyes are a bright golden-orange. Feet and beak are relatively small in proportion to the rest of the body. \n\nRange: Long Eared owls are distributed throughout the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, in tropical America, and locally in Africa and Madagascar. \n\nHabitat: prefers conifers, and mixed conniferous/deciduous woodlands, especially near water. Also can be found in parks, woodlands, orchards, and farm woodlands. \n\nFood preferences: small rodents and birds, some amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects. \n\nMating: Monogamous. \n\nNesting: Usually in abandoned nests - especially crow, also hawks, squirrels, magpies, herons, and ravens. Sometimes will nest in loose colonies. Female selects the site and does all the brooding, fed by the male. Rarely nests on the ground. Nest sites are more often 25 to 35 feet above the ground. Family stays as a unit well after the young have fledged (sometimes until late Autumn), then young disperse to establish new territories. \n\nEggs: 4 - 5 white eggs, about 1.6" in length. Young hatch asynchronously. \n\nAverage Lifespan: Long lived. In captivity, some records note lifespans of 25 - 27 years. Expect 1/3 of that in the wild. \n\nHunting Technique: Flying while hunting. \n\nStatus: uncommon in West Virginia, mostly observed in higher altitudes. One recorded nest was found in Nicholas County (Bukelew & Hall, WV Breeding Bird Atlas, Pittsburgh Press) and some winter migration counts show individuals in Monongalia, Grant, Morgan, Summers, Upshur, and Webster counties (Venable, Birds of Prey, WVU Extension Service). \n\n\nNotes: These birds are very nocturnal and firmly believe in daytime concealment when roosting. According to most distribution maps, this species is one of the most common in all the planet, close in distribution to the Barn Owl. It is unusual for owls to establish colonies, but Long Eared Owls like company. Varied calls include a series of drawn out hoots (one roughly every 2 seconds) also short soft "barks" and drawn out wails.$

$Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$ $Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$ $Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$ $Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$ $Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$ $Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) \n\nIdentification Tips:\nLength: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches \nLarge, narrow-winged hawk \nFlies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow \nWings taper to a rounded tip \nShort hooked beak \nWhite cap \nDark brown eyeline broadening behind eye \nDark brown nape, back and upperwings \nWings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist \nWhite chin, throat, breast and belly \nBrown tail has a number of white bands \nHovers and then plunges into water after fish \nAdult male: \n\nUnderparts entirely white \nAdult female: \n\nDark necklace of streaks on throat \nImmature: \n\nWhite tips to dark back feathers$

Powerful and fast-flying, the Peregrine Falcon hunts medium-sized birds, dropping down on them from high above in a spectacular stoop. Virtually exterminated from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century, restoration efforts have made it a regular, if still uncommon sight in many large cities.

$Scientific Name: Beauteo jamaicensis \n\nAppearance: This red tailed hawk is a very dark chocolate brown all over, with the feathers on his back having an almost gun-metal blue overwash. There is no distinguishing "belly band" or whitish breast. The tail is very dark red with a dark, almost black terminal band. At 2 years old, Harlan has bright yellow eyes, which may or may not change later to the more common brown color seen in other lighter- morphed red-tails. \n\nSize: weight ranges from 1.5 pounds for a male up to 3.5 pounds for a female. Wingspan ranges from 43 to 52 inches, body from top of head to the tail averages 19 inches. \n\nRange: Red tails can be found all over the United States and Alaska. Northernmost red-tails tend to migrate, the others can stay in their ranges all year. \n\nFood Preferences: small rodents, rabbits, squirrels, insects & larvae, fish, snakes. Food preferences of individual red-tailed hawks can be highly variable. For example, "Nick" likes the bigger prey such as large rats and squirrels, "Harlan" loves to eat mice and small rats. \n\nHunting Technique: Most often will sit on a promising high perch and wait for prey to come near, but also pursues prey at high speeds, dives on it from high in the air, or steals prey from other raptors or crows. Has been documented eating fresh carrion, also can hunt on foot - running down their prey or hopping on it from a short distance. \n\nBreeding & Habitat: Red-tails prefer both open and wooded areas. Monogamous, mate for life. \n\nNesting: platform nest of twigs and sticks, often lined and decorated with fresh twigs and strips of bark from nearby trees. The nest can be reused by the same pair for many years. \n\nEggs: usually 2 -3 white to bluish-white eggs, spotted with brown or sometimes unmarked, laid in late March. There is usually at least a day-long interval between laying each egg. If for some reason the first clutch of eggs is destroyed, red-tails will sometimes lay a second set 3 - 4 weeks later, usual$

Steve Shaluta Photography Raptors, Game Birds & Scavengers

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Steve Shaluta Photography
Raptors, Game Birds & Scavengers