mm@cloud9.Stratus.COM (Mike Mahler) (11/28/89)
This past Sunday morning we were delighted to wake to two
hawks perched in a tree behind our house! What a sight!
Hawks are making a big comeback here in Massachusetts and
they are beutiful to watch (although the crows don't seem
to like them very much). These hawks are about 2 foot long
(including tail) and are light brown on the back and lighter on
the belly. Can someone tell me what type of hawks these are?
(They looked to weigh about 10 pounds!)
Michael
-- dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Sam Conway) (12/03/89)
In response to Michael (you forgot to post your e-mail address), a "two-foot long hawk, brown on top and lighter on the bottom, weighing about 10 pounds each" describes quite a lot of hawks! If they are that big, though, I would imagine them to be red-tailed hawks, which are quite common. The two of them were probably a mated pair. And get ready for a shock -- each weighs probably about 2-3 pounds! What you are looking at is almost all feather. Next time you see them, try to get a look at the tail: for a red-tail, it will be a cinnamon-red color with a narrow black band across the bottom (surprise surprise!). The bird will also have a band of dark spots across the belly. -- Sam Conway dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu Save the Humans! Chemistry Dept., Dartmouth College Vermont Raptor Center, VINS