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Home , Golden eagle, Harrier (bird), Merlin (bird), Pembina Valley Region, Plum Coulee, Prairie falcon

A POCKET FIELD GUIDE TO RAPTORS OF THE

www.arocha.ca TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ...... 3 Introduction ...... 4 About raptors ...... 5 Vulture Osprey How to use this guide ...... 6 Vulture Glossary ...... 7 Vultures () ...... 9 Osprey ...... 11 ...... 13 Harrier Bald ...... 13 ...... 15 Harriers (Northern Harrier) ...... 17 Eagle ...... 19 Sharp-shinned ...... 19 Golden Eagle Cooper’s Hawk ...... 21 ...... 23 ...... 25 Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk ...... 25 Cooper’s Hawk Swainson’s Hawk ...... 26 Northern Goshawk Red-tailed Hawk ...... 27 Rough-legged Hawk ...... 31 ...... 33 American ...... 33 Broad-winged Hawk Swainson’s Hawk Merlin ...... 35 Red-tailed Hawk ...... 37 Peregrine Falcon Rare raptors in the Pembina Valley Region . . 39 Rough-legged Hawk Check-list of raptors ...... 40 Bibliography ...... 41 1 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION Funding for this pocket guide was provided by of prey have fascinated people through the the Canadian Wildlife Federation, ages. They have appeared in the courts of kings, Tourism Secretariat and A Rocha donors. Special on the arms of falconers and have been studied thanks goes to the following people who by many biologists and scientists. For anyone provided photographs: Alfred Aug, Vic Berardi, who has grown up on the , the lazy Gordon Court, Jerry Liguori, Bob Shettler, Phil circling of a hawk on a warm summer day is an Swanson, Dennis Swayze, Robert Visconti and iconic memory. Historically persecuted for their Brian Wheeler. Raymond Klassen produced the real or perceived threat as “chicken ”, initial raptor silhouettes. Many thanks to Valorie raptors are now recognized as important links in Goossen, Rudolph Koes, Allen Schritt, Bob sustaining the ecosystem. Legislation protects all Shettler and Peter Taylor for their review of the raptors in and for some guide. Pembina Valley Tourism Association additional conservation measures are needed as facilitated funding for this guide. Special thanks they are considered species at risk. to Yvonne Peters for her excellent work on the design of this guide. This booklet could not have Birds of prey can be seen in any season of the been produced effectively without the aid of year, but one of the best times to see raptors is in reference material (see Bibliography). Cover spring. For the novice birdwatcher, identifying photo by A. Aug. Cover background image by birds of prey can be a major challenge and the Raymond Klassen. cause of much frustration. Even experts can have difficulty with raptor identification. Many raptors look very similar to each other because of their mottled and dull . Adding to the challenge of identification are the differing plumages among juveniles, subadults as well as adults. Also, some species have different colour morphs.

Recommended citation: Goossen, J. Paul. 2015. A pocket field guide to raptors of the Pembina Valley Region, second edition. A Rocha , Morden, Manitoba and Surrey, . 42 pp. Printed on FSC certified paper. Falcon © 2015 A Rocha Canada. All rights reserved. Photo by V. Berardi 3 4 ABOUT RAPTORS HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE The term raptor applies to birds of prey including This field guide is intended to be a helpful hawks, falcons, eagles and owls. Raptors are birds introduction to the novice birdwatcher and a which capture and consume other living creatures quick reference guide for the expert in the or feed on dead (carrion). Generally the identification of raptors in the PVR (see map on term raptor applies to birds of prey which are back cover). The guide focuses on the active during the day (diurnal) thereby excluding identification of raptors in flight. owls which are mostly active at night (nocturnal). Of the 21 diurnal raptor species recorded in So how do you use this guide? First determine Manitoba, only 16 breed in the province. that the you are viewing is a raptor. Then consult the silhouette guide on the front inside Diurnal raptors can be grouped into seven cover to decide what of raptor you are categories: vultures, osprey, eagles, harriers, looking at. Is it a vulture, osprey, eagle, harrier, accipiters, buteos and falcons. Vultures are accipiter, buteo or falcon? Once you have soaring birds which feed primarily on carrion and decided what type of raptor you are observing, rely on their sense of smell and good eyesight to consult the section in the guide that pertains to find food. Ospreys are the fish hawks of the raptor that group of raptors. For those unfamiliar with world. Eagles are large birds known for their the topographical terminology of birds, please strong flight and powerful strength. Harriers are check the glossary section of this guide for often seen flying low over or definitions and see Figure 1 which illustrates in search of small rodents. Accipiters are agile and many of the terms. swift woodland hawks that pursue songbirds. Buteos are the chunky hawks seen soaring over fields and open woodlands or perched on telephone or hydro poles. Falcons are the fast, powerful aerial hunters of the raptor world.

In the Pembina Valley Region (PVR), raptors live in or near a variety of including forests, Rough-legged Hawk riparian woodlands, marshes, and grasslands. Photo by V. Berardi 5 6 GLOSSARY Adult – a bird that has reached full adult . Trailing edge – the back edge of the extended Armpit – area where underwing coverts meet wing. body. Underwing coverts – small on the open Diurnal – active during the day. underwing covering the bases of the flight Fingers – descriptive term referring to primary feathers. feathers of a wing. Wing panel – area of light colouration on the Flight feathers – the primary and secondary primary feathers. feathers. Wrist – the bend in the wing. Juvenile – a bird that is in its first year. Figure 1. Topography Subterminal Leading edge – the front edge of the extended of a raptor. wing. Band Morph – a descriptor of the overall colouring of a bird (e.g., light, dark). Armpit Moustache – a dark vertical facial mark. Belly Band Nape – the upper neck region just below the head. Patagium – fold of skin between the wrist and the Nape body. Primary feathers – the long feathers at the outer Patagium edge of an open wing. Rump – the region between the base of the tail Wrist and the back. Secondary feathers – the long inner feathers Leading between the primary feathers and the body. Edge Subadult – a bird that has not acquired an adult plumage. Age may range between 1-5 years Fingers depending on the species. Terminal Band Subterminal band – second last band near the tip Trailing Edge of the tail. Terminal band – last band at the tip of the tail. Secondary Feathers Topography – pertains to the external features of a bird. Red-tailed Hawk Primary Feathers 7 Photo by A. Aug 8 VULTURES edges are darkish. Golden Eagle has large head with golden nape and has steady stable flight. TURKEY VULTURE Rough-legged Hawk has dark subterminal (Cathartes aura) undertail band.

Size: Large raptor. Larger than Red-tailed Hawk. Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. Arrives in late Key identifiers: Large dark raptor, small red March or early April. Highest head, white or ivory bill. Long wings, two-toned total spring count in the underwings (black coverts, silvery flight Pembina Valley is 360 feathers). Long tail, silvery on underside. (2013).

Flight characteristics: Rarely flaps its wings, usually seen soaring with wings held in a strong V over its back (dihedral position). Teetering and unsteady flight when soaring.

Confusing species: Golden Eagle and dark morph Rough-legged Hawk. These species also have two-toned underwings but their trailing

Photo by P. Swanson TURKEY 9 VULTURE10 OSPREY OSPREY OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)

Size: Large raptor. Larger than Red-tailed Hawk.

Key identifiers: Large raptor, whitish breast, belly and underwing coverts. Dark brown back and upper wings. Long, narrow wings crooked at wrist which extends even with or beyond the head. Wings appear in shape of a “W” or “M” with dark wrist patches. White head with dark brown eye stripe extending to neck. Long tail.

Flight characteristics: Wings are slightly bowed downward; shallow, stiff wing beats. Occasionally soars.

Confusing species: From a distance gulls may look similar but lack the dark eye stripe and dark wrist on the underwings and do not show “fingers” on the wing. Subadult Bald Eagles may be mistaken for Osprey. Osprey are smaller with a white breast.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. First arrival during second week in April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 243 (2013).

11 Photo by A. Aug 12 Adult EAGLES Photo by V. Berardi BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Size: Larger than Red-tailed Hawk.

Key identifiers: Adult - White head, dark body and wings, white tail, yellow bill. Adult plumage attained in five years. Subadults (1-4 years) - various dark and white plumage patterns. Highly variable mottling on body and wings. Underwing coverts generally whitish.

Flight characteristics: Flapping, gliding and soaring. Heavy, lumbering, flat wing beat. Plank- like wings held flat when soaring.

Confusing species: Subadults can be confused with Golden Eagles. Golden Eagles have golden nape, tawny bar on upper wings (except juveniles) and proportionally smaller head compared to the rest of the body. Golden Eagles soar with wings held in slight dihedral.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds but most are migrants. May overwinter, feeding on wild or domestic carrion. Migrants first seen around mid February. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 1,868 (2013).

Subadult (early) 13 BALD EAGLE Photo by A. Aug 14 GOLDEN GOLDEN EAGLE ( chrysaetos) EAGLE Size: Larger than Red-tailed Hawk. Key identifiers: Adult - golden nape and dark body. Tawny upper wing bar, silvery underwing flight feathers, dark band along trailing edge of underwing. Juvenile - golden nape, dark body, Juvenile lacks tawny wing bar. White wing patch visible on upper and underwing. White tail with broad dark band. Subadult - golden nape and dark body. Tawny upper wing bar; base of primaries can be white. White tail with dark broad band. Less white in tail and primaries with age. At a distance, shape like large buteo. Flight characteristics: Strong, slow wing beats. Soars with wings in slight V shape. Confusing species: Subadult Bald Eagle, dark morph Red-tailed Hawk and dark morph Rough- legged Hawk - all lack golden nape. Bald Eagle head larger and body bulkier than Golden Eagle's. Red-tailed Hawk is smaller, has shorter wings and lighter underwing flight feathers than Golden Adult Eagle. Dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, Photos by P. Swanson compared to adult Golden Eagle, has whitish underwing primary and secondary feathers, and a whitish tail with one or more black bands. Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. First seen around mid February. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 104 (2013). 15 16 HARRIERS NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)

Size: Medium-sized raptor. Comparable to American Crow. Female Photo by Key identifiers: Appears R. Visconti lanky; long tail and wings. White rump (not visible when viewing bird from below). Owl-like face. Males undersides are almost white, back is grey. Upper wings are grey with black wingtips and black trailing edge. Females brown with streaked breast.

Flight characteristics: Flaps and glides in a rocking motion. Wings in slight V over back. Often flies near ground. Soars but not as much as some other diurnal raptors.

Confusing species: Flight is similar to Turkey Vulture, but harriers are smaller. Depending on flight mode and weather conditions can take on buteo or falcon-like appearance.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. First migrants arrive after mid March. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 198 (2013). Male Photo by A. Aug 17 18 ACCIPITERS SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)

Size: Small accipiter. Comparable to a but a bit larger.

Key identifiers: Short, small head barely extends past leading edge of wings. Wings held forward. Square tail.

Flight characteristics: 3-6 rapid wing beats then glides. Flitty flight style. Soars with wings flat.

Confusing species: Cooper's Hawk has proportionally longer head than Sharp-shinned Hawk when compared to rest of body and rounded, long tail.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. Arrives in late March or early April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 1,591 (2013).

Photos by V. Berardi 19 20 COOPER’S COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii) HAWK Size: Medium-sized accipter. Comparable to American Crow.

Key identifiers: Cooper's head extends past leading edge of wings. Appears long and lanky, head extends beyond wrists, rounded tail.

Flight characteristics: 3-6 wing beats (not as rapid as a Sharp-shinned Hawk) and then glides. When soaring, looks like a flying cross with leading edge of wings straight.

Confusing species: Sharp-shinned Hawk has proportionally smaller head compared to the rest of its body and square tail.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. Migrants generally first seen in late March or early April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 123 (2013). Photo by B. Wheeler Photo by J. Liguori 21 22 NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis)

Size: Large accipiter. Larger than an American Crow.

Key identifiers: Dark crown, wings and back. Breast finely scaled with grey. Long, white eyebrow. White, fluffy under- tail feathers. Broad tail. Body appears heavy.

Flight characteristics: Several wing beats followed by a glide. Wing beats are Photo by heavy, deep and laboured. Soars. J. Liguori

Confusing species: Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks. Northern Goshawk is larger and stockier. Wing beats shallower and slower. Upper wings are two-toned while Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks are more uniformly coloured.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. First seen in early to mid March. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 56 (2005).

Photo by B. Wheeler 23 24 SWAINSON'S Photo by BUTEOS D. Swayze HAWK BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) (Buteo swainsoni)

Size: Small buteo. Comparable to American Crow. Size: Medium-sized buteo. Comparable to Key identifiers: Light morph - Brown upperparts. Red-tailed Hawk. Light underparts. Breast mottled white and brown. Dark primary tips and trailing edge. Distinct Key identifiers: Light white-and-black banded tail. Dark morph (rare) - morph - Dark brown Dark body and underwing linings. Distinct white- head. White throat and-black banded tail. One white tail band wider patch and brown bib. than the others as in light morph. Pale to white underwing linings contrasting with brown, barred flight Flight characteristics: Soaring, gliding and feathers giving a two-toned appearance. Leading flapping. edge of wing is pale to white. Long pointy wings. Dark morph - Brown including underwing Confusing species: Red-shouldered linings. Hawk adult has rufous underwing linings, white patches on outer upper Flight characteristics: Soaring and gliding. wings and narrow white tail bands. Wings slightly V-shaped over back. Teetering flight like Turkey Vulture. Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. Confusing species: Red-tailed Hawk. Arrives after mid April. Swainson's lacks dark patagial wing marking, Highest total count breast band and rufous tail of the Red-tailed in the Pembina Hawk. Valley is 733 (2013). Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. Usually first seen in early April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 133 (2013).

Photo by P. Swanson 25 26 BROAD-WINGED HAWK SWAINSON’S HAWK RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis) Eastern Red-tailed Hawk Head medium brown, white throat, belly band Size: Medium-sized buteo. Comparable to less defined than Western, sometimes absent, . underwing linings and body whitish, patagial markings moderate to distinct. Key identifiers: Wide range of plumage variation from light to intermediate to dark Krider's - Very light morph of Eastern race. morphs. Partial or complete albinism is rare. Considerable white on head, body and Three races in Pembina Valley Region: underwings. Patagial markings faint. Western, Eastern and Harlan’s. Breast band absent or faint. Tail a faint rufous. Western Red-tailed Hawk Light morph - Dark head and throat. Breast band usually distinct. Rufous tail. Dark patagial markings.

Dark morph - Breast and underwings dark. Dark head. Multi-banded Eastern rufous tail. Intermediate Photo by V. Berardi morph has rufous and dark body.

Western - Intermediate Photo by P. Swanson

Krider’s Photo by J. Liguori 27 Western - Light 28 Photo by P. Swanson Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk Light morph - Light body and breast band. Distinct dark patagial markings. Tail is greyish or whitish mottled with smudgy terminal band or distinctly banded.

Dark morph - Very dark. Nearly solid black body and underwings. Tail greyish or whitish, mottled with smudgy terminal band or distinctly banded.

Flight characteristics: Soars with wings in slight V shape. Slightly tucked when gliding.

Confusing species: Swainson's Hawk has pointed wings. Lacks rufous tail and belly band. Ferruginous Hawk is larger. Tail lacks subterminal band.

Status in the Photo by A. Aug Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. First migrants seen about mid March. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 12,488 (2013).

Photo by J. Liguori

29 30 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (Buteo lagopus)

Size: Medium-sized buteo. Comparable to Red-tailed Hawk.

Key identifiers: Light morph - Body and underwing linings mottled white and black. Dark wrist patches. Black trailing edge. Dark broad belly band. Distinct broad, black tail band. Dark morph - Body black to Photo by B. Shettler dark brown. Underwings white or slightly mottled. Black lining on trailing edge. Distinct black band on broad tail.

Flight characteristics: Gliding and soaring. Wings held in V fashion. Hovers when hunting.

Confusing species: Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier. Similar shape to Red-tailed Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk has longer tail, not rufous coloured. Northern Harrier has white rump.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. Photo by G. Court Seen as early as late February. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 77 (2007).

31 32 FALCONS AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

Size: Small falcon. Comparable to but larger than Blue Jay. Female Key identifiers: Adult male - White cheeks with Photo by R. Visconti facial moustache. Rufous back. Upper wings blue-grey. Light underwings. Trailing edge has white spots, visible in good light. Spotted belly. Distinct rufous, black-tipped tail. Adult female - Facial moustache. Rufous back and upper wing. Streaked breast and belly. Rufous tail with numerous dark bands. Female Photo by R. Visconti Flight characteristics: Flap-gliding flight. Wings flat when soaring. Rapid wing beat. Flight is dainty, buoyant, fluttery and wandering. Male Photo by R. Visconti Confusing species: Merlin. Lack of distinct moustache, darker appearance, heavier wing beat and lack of rufous back and rusty tail separate Merlin from the kestrel.

Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. First migrants seen in late March or early April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 59 (2013).

Male Photo by B. Wheeler 33 34 MERLIN (Falco columbarius) Photos by J. Liguori

Size: Small falcon. Slightly larger than American Kestrel.

Key identifiers: Adult male – Small, stocky with bluish-grey back and wings. Wings tapered. Tail has distinct dark bands. Light, streaked underparts. Adult female - larger, brown appearance overall. Light, streaked underparts. Tail banded. Male

Flight characteristics: Rapid, continuous, strong wing beat. Occasionally soars. Tail appears two- toned when soaring high.

Confusing species: American Kestrel and . Kestrel is slighter than Merlin and has reddish-brown back and tail. Prairie Falcon may Female appear similar to Merlin from a distance but at close range its larger size and dark armpits distinguish it from the Merlin.

Status in Pembina Valley Region: Breeds. Migrants first seen in late March or early April. Highest total spring count in the Pembina Valley Female is 88 (2013). 35 MERLIN 36 PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) Confusing species: Prairie Falcon. Lighter overall colour and dark armpits distinguish Size: Medium-sized falcon. Comparable to Prairie Falcon from Peregrine Falcon. American Crow. Status in the Pembina Valley Region: Migrant. Key identifiers: Dark head and moustache. First seen in late March or early April. Highest Upper body and wings blue-grey. Throat and total spring count in the Pembina Valley is 210 chest white. Underwings and lower body barred. (2013).

Flight characteristics: Swift, strong, shallow wing beat. Soars occasionally with tapered, flat wings.

Photos by D. Swayze 37 38 RARE RAPTORS IN THE CHECK-LIST OF RAPTORS PEMBINA VALLEY REGION OF THE PEMBINA VALLEY REGION Common Name Status √ RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Buteo lineatus) Rare Migrant a Status: Rare migrant. Turkey Vulture Breeds Osprey Migrant Photo by Photo by B. Wheeler Bald Eagle Breeds G. Court GYRFALCON Golden Eagle Migrant (Falco rusticolus) a Status: Northern Harrier Breeds Rare migrant. Sharp-shinned Hawk Migrant Cooper’s Hawk Breeds Northern Goshawk Migrant BLACK VULTURE Red-shouldered Hawk Rare Migrant (Coragyps atratus) a Broad-winged Hawk Breeds Status: Rare migrant. Photo by V. Berardi Swainson’s Hawk Breeds Red-tailed Hawk Breeds PRAIRIE FALCON Ferruginous Hawk Rare Migrant (Falco mexicanus) a Rough-legged Hawk Migrant Photo by Status: Rare migrant. B. Wheeler American Kestrel Breeds Merlin Breeds FERRUGINOUS HAWK Gyrfalcon Rare Migrant (Buteo regalis) a Prairie Falcon Rare Migrant Photo by Status: Rare migrant. V. Berardi Peregrine Falcon Migrant 39 40 Liguori, J. 2005. Hawks from every angle. BIBLIOGRAPHY Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 132 pp. American Ornithologists' Union. Check-list of North and Middle American birds. Retrieved 19 Manitoba Avian Research Committee. 2003. The March 2015 from http://checklist.aou.org/taxa/. birds of Manitoba. Manitoba Naturalists Society, . 504 pp. Bildstein, K., J.P. Smith, E. Ruelas Inzunza and R.R. Veit. 2008. State of North America's birds Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas. Retrieved 26 of prey. Series in , No. 3. Nuttall March 2015 from http://birdatlas.mb.ca. Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists Union. Cambridge and National Geographic Society. Field guide to the , D. C. 466 pp. birds of North America. 1st and 2nd edition. Washington, D.C. 464 pp. Earley, C.G. 2004. Hawks & Owls of the Great Lakes Region & eastern North America. Firefly Pembina River Watershed Planning Authority. Books, Richmond Hill, Ontario. 128 pp. 2011. Pembina River integrated watershed management plan. Pembina River Watershed Ferguson-Lees, J. and D.A. Christie. 2005. Planning Authority. 38 pp. plus appendices. Raptors of the world. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 320 pp. Sibley, D.A. 2000. The Sibley guide to birds. National Audubon Society. Alfred A. Knopf, New Godfrey, W.E. 1986. The birds of Canada York. 544 pp. (Revised Edition). National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa. 595 pp. Wheeler, B.K. and W.S. Clark. 2003. A photographic guide to North American raptors. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 198 pp.

Ferruginous Hawk Photo by V. Berardi 41 42 THE PEMBINA VALLEY REGION The Pembina Valley Region harbours a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Although is predominant in the region, wildlife habitats can be found in woodlots and , along streams and rivers and in grasslands. Within this region, the Pembina Valley is a significant riparian corridor and an important migratory thoroughfare for thousands of birds including raptors. The Pembina River, with its source in the Turtle Mountains, flows through this region into the where it empties into the Red River near Pembina, . Slopes of the Pembina Valley are typically covered by deciduous forest and shrubs.

N MAP LEGEND PEMBINA VALLEY Pembina Valley Border WINNIPEG U.S. Border Highway Starbuck Divided Highway 13 Local or Gravel Road San- S Fanny- ford Stelle 247 Community 2 Elm Domain Customs St. Claude Creek 305 240 Brunkild 245 75 3 245 Rosenort Roseisle Carman Aubigny Somerset 332 244 422 Miami 200 23 Roland

Mariapolis Lowe Morris 240 432 3 34 306 Farm La Rivière Manitou 428 Pilot 3 Mound Morden Winkler 14 Letellier Crystal 242 201 City 31 432 32 201 Altona Snowflake 421 201 Emerson A Rocha Pembina Valley Provincial Park