These are ten of the most frequently seen raptors in the Snake River Birds of Prey (Buteo jamaicensis) National Conservation Area (NCA). For positive identification, consult a commercially Red-tailed Hawk Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) available bird field book. For additional information about the NCA contact the Usually soars for long periods without flapping wings Usually flies low over fields with an undulating flight Bureau of Land Management, Lower Snake River District Office, Broad wings
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Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) Rapid wing beats Faint mustache Light brown (tan) wings and body Males: white underneath with black wing tips, Long, grey head and back Light underside with dark narrow body belly band; body color Females: light belly, streaked varies from deep chocolate Adults have breast, brown head and back brown to reddish • Red tails with many dark bars in the tail Topside: male and female have Long pointed wings Immatures: like female, buff belly • Usually have some white on the breast white strip on upper tail Dark brown feathers in Lightly streaked breast and white mottled or streaked tail the “arm pits” Size: 19 to 25 inches long # of eggs: 2 to 5 Size: 17 to 24 inches long # of eggs: 3 to 9 (white) Wingspan: 48 to 53 inches white with brown spots Wingspan: 48 to 54 inches Eggs laid: mid April - mid May Size: 14 to 20 inches long # of eggs: 3 to 6 (brownish) Weight: 1 3/4 to 3 1/2 pounds Eggs laid: March - early April Weight: 3/4 to 1-1/4 pounds Incubation Wingspan: 30 to 40 inches Eggs laid: early April - late May # nesting in NCA: 70 to 90 pairs Incubation # nesting in NCA: 75+ pairs & fledging: 8 to 9 weeks Weight: 1 to 2 pounds Incubation & fledging: 10 to 11 weeks # nesting in NCA: 160 to 200 pairs & fledging: 8 to 10 weeks
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) Common Raven (Corvus corax) “Hovers” over fields with rapid wing beats Largest hawk in North America Not a raptor, Largest song bird, Hawklike in flight Usually perches on phone wires Underside wings: white with reddish patches Two mustache marks White body
Female: brown wings, reddish streaked breast, pointed wings reddish brown striped tail Dark legs form a V-shaped pattern Wedge-shaped tail; rounded long, broad wings against white belly Large, shiny black on the end Male: bluish wings, whitish breast, thick with a thick beak black stripe on end of reddish tail, red buck
Size: 8 to 12 inches long # of eggs: 4 to 5 (white with Size: 22 to 25 inches long # of eggs: 3 to 5 (white and Size: 21 to 27 inches long # of eggs: 4 to 7 (blue with Wingspan: 21 to 24 inches brown spots) Wingspan: 50 to 60 inches brown blotched) Wingspan: 45 to 50 inches brown blotches) Weight: 1/4 to 1 pound Eggs laid: mid April-early May Weight: 2 to 5 pounds Eggs laid: early April - early May Weight: 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds Eggs laid: March - May # nesting in NCA: 30 to 45 pairs Incubation # nesting in NCA: 20 to 35 pairs Incubation # nesting in NCA: 150+ pairs Incubation (survey incomplete) & fledging: 7 to 8 weeks & fledging: 10 to 11 weeks & fledging: 9 to 10 weeks Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) Largest raptor in the NCA Spring/summer resident only, winters to Argentina Raptor Identification Guide Usually soars for long periods without flapping wings for birds commonly seen in the Dark brown wings and body
Leading edge of wing Light colored body with underside is white, trailing dark breast band edge is dark (opposite of the White patches toward the end of the Turkey Vulture) Tail underside is light colored Broad wings wings and near the base of the tail on with dark-barred pattern Large rounded tail immature eagles
Size: 19 to 22 inches long # of eggs: 2 to 3 (white spotted Size: 30 to 42 inches long # of eggs: 1 to 3 (dull white Wingspan: 48 to 54 inches with brown) Wingspan: 74 to 97 inches with brown blotches) Weight: 1 1/4 to 2 3/4 pounds Eggs laid: April - May Weight: 7 to 13 pounds Eggs laid: early Feb. - mid March # nesting in NCA: 1 to 5 pairs Incubation # nesting in NCA: 25 to 30 pairs Incubation & fledging: 8 to 11 weeks & fledging: 15 to 16 weeks
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) Wintering bird only, spring/summer spent in arctic areas Slightly smaller than a golden eagle Commonly hovers like a kestrel when hunting Soars with wing in a V-shape, rocking or teetering from side to side SNAKE RIVER
Featherless, red head BIRDS OF PREY National
Legs completely Wings have black leading edge and Conservation Almost black in color Light-colored head feathered to the toes light colored trailing edge, giving a and breast with dark two-toned effect to the underwing belly band White tail with a broad, black Area Long tail with terminal band rounded end
Size: 19 to 22 inches long # of eggs: 2 to 6 (white w/brown) Size: 26 to 32 inches long # of eggs: 1 to 3 (white with Wingspan: 48 to 56 inches Eggs laid: June Wingspan: 68 to 72 inches dark blotches) U.S. Department of the Interior Weight: 2 1/4 to 3 pounds Incubation Weight: 2 to 5 pounds Eggs laid: April # nesting in NCA: none (migratory only) & fledging: 10 to 11 weeks Bureau of Land Management # nesting in NCA: 1 to 2 pairs Incubation & fledging: 15 to 16 weeks Lower Snake River District • Boise, Idaho