Raptor Images

Images are sorted in taxonomical order as presented in Raptors of the World. Names used therein are accepted as correct, and differences between those names and the commonly used names in the United States are noted.

Order CICONIIFORMES

Family CATHARTIDAE

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

	Black Vulture Soaring near Cape May, New Jersey.
	Black Vulture Soaring over Patagonia, Arizona.
	Black Vulture A black vulture soared overhead in New Jersey, May, 2007.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

	Turkey Vulture Soaring near Hawk Hill.
	Turkey Vulture A Turkey Vulture feeding.
	The Top View From Hawk Hill you can sometimes see the tops of the birds.
	Sunning Himself The turkey vulture warms his wings before flying.
	Another Vulture Another vulture in the roost at the entrance to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

California Condor Three condors in an enclosure prior to release.

Order ACCIPITRIFORMES

Family PANDIONIDAE

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

	Osprey in Flight This osprey flew over the Cape May Hawkwatch.
	Osprey on the Nest This osprey guards a nest on a nesting platform on Tomales Bay.
	Osprey on the Nest Three young osprey are joined by a parent.
	Osprey in Flight This osprey was near Hawk Hill.
	Osprey in Flight This osprey flew over the platform at Cape May.
	Osprey in Flight A second look at the same bird..
	Osprey Osprey by the golfballs
	Osprey Osprey under Hill 88
	Osprey Osprey flying west
	Osprey More osprey
	Osprey More osprey
	Osprey More osprey
	Osprey More osprey
	Osprey More osprey
	Osprey More osprey
	Fish Being carried by an osprey
	Osprey Note the fish.
	Osprey Note the fish.
	Osprey Note the fish.
	Osprey Note the fish.

Family ACCIPITRIDAE

Sub-family White-tailed kites

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)

	Soaring Kite This kite was seen near the Davis sewage ponds.
	Perched Kite This kite was perched on a wire at the Davis sewage ponds.
	Kite This kite was near an old Navy Base.

Sub-family True Kites

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

	Black Kite This kite was soaring over Hong Kong.
	Black Kite This kite was flying over the Aswan Dam.
	Yellow-billed Kite This was called a Yellow-billed Kite in Madagascar. It is a subspecies of Milvus migrans.

Fish eagles

African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

	Looking away At Lake Naivasha I spotted an African Fish Eagle.
	Looking back Soon, he spotted me.
	A pair This pair of African Fish Eagles was by the swamp in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
	Patience A solitary African Fish Eagle was waiting for a fish in Tarangire.

Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)

Madagascar Fish Eagle I went to Ampijoroa to see one of these birds, there are only about 50 nesting pairs left, so it was something of an expedition. And it was worth the effort.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

	First Picture It's pretty poor, but I took this picture in Yellowstone in 1993.
	Pair of Eagles There is a second eagle in this picture, taken in Oregon. Can you find it?
	First year bird My favorite eagle picture, this bird spread his wings and with the mountain in the background formed the perfect picture. This was also in Oregon.
	Adult in Flight This adult was at the flyout from Bear Valley, Oregon.
	Sitting in a Tree Perched in a tree in Lower Klamath Refuge, California.
	Almost an Adult Soaring over the Skagit River, Washington.
	Balanced Eagles Sitting in a tree in the flats.
	Sub-Adult This bald eagle, seen in Cisco, Utah, is almost in adult plumage.
	Waiting Waiting for a fish.
	Gone Fishin' This five-year-old is diving on some food.
	A Pair at Play Two eagles near Puget Sound were at play.
	A Youngster The 2002 Flyout at Bear Valley had this bird.
	About to Fly Overhead The sun illuminates the front of this eagle.
	It's a Sign Sitting on a sign.
	Seeking Balance Two eagles, chatting.
	At Tule Lake This bird was just taking off.
	2004 Eagle A bald eagle at the fly-back in Oregon.

Old World Vultures

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Egyptian Vulture This vulture was flying over the Edfu Temple on the Nile.

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

Up a tree The White-backed vulture was sitting up in a tree.

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii)

	Feeding frenzy A bunch of vultures, with Rüppell's Vultures standing by for their turn.
	Just ate Having eaten too much, I'll just sit here an digest.

Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)

	At the Roost These two vultures are at the roost.
	Party Time There's a dead buffalo nearby, so we're gathering here while it ripens.

Lappet-faced vulture (Aegypius tracheliotus)

Lappet-Faced Vulture The lappet-faced vulture was soaring over the Serengeti.

Harriers

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Formerly Circus cyaneus, the Eurasian Hen Harrier is now considered a separate species.

	A Juvenile Harrier This bird was flying just south of Davis.
	A Pair of Male Harriers This pair was seen on a search for Swainson's Hawks.
	A Male Harrier This male harrier was on the flats near the Skagit.
	Northern Harrier The harrier is visible against Butterfly Ridge.
	Northern Harrier A young northern harrier.

True Accipiters

Frances's Sparrowhawk (Accipiter francesii)

Frances's Sparrowhawk This hawk was seen in southern Madagascar at the Berenty Preserve.

Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis)

Madagascar Sparrowhawk Also seen at Berenty, which was a good spot for birds.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

	In Flight This Sharpie looks almost like a Coop.
	In Hand In hand, you can see the red eye of this adult.
	In flight This sharpie was flying by Hawk Hill.
	Cape May The sharpies at Cape May tend to be high fliers.
	Sharp-shinned Hawk The next few pictures are of a sharp-shinned hawk that landed in a tree next to where I was standing.
	Sharp-shinned Hawk He probably thought he was well camoflaged, but I saw him
	Sharp-shinned Hawk And I took a lot of pictures!
	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

	On a Telephone Poll This was one aggressive bird, having attacked me when I left my hotel room in the morning.
	Hawk Hill #1 Cooper's Hawks fly low over Hawk Hill sometimes. Hawk Hill has the record for the most Cooper's Hawks seen in a single day.
	Hawk Hill #2 Crossing the Golden Gate is daunting if you don't like to fly over water..
	Cape May #2 They've got to cross the Delaware Bay.
	Cape May #2 They've got to cross the Delaware Bay.
	Full Crop A Cooper's Hawk with a very full crop.
	Cooper's Hawk A Juvenile Coop as I walked away.
	Cooper's Hawk A great look
	Cooper's Hawk A perfect look

True Hawks and Buzzards

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)

On the Border The Common Black Hawk seen here was actually flying over Mexico, the Rio Grande River was at my feet when I took the picture.

Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)

Also known as a Grey Hawk in the United States.

	In Flagrante Sorry to intrude...
	Beautiful! The Grey Hawk soaring is a beautiful sight.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

	Juvenile Red-Shoulder Initially mis-identified as a Cooper's Hawk, this is a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk as seen from Hawk Hill.
	On a Wire This Red-shoulder was on a wire just south of Half Moon Bay in California.
	In Golden Gate Park This Red-shoulder perched on a limb in Golden Gate Park.
	Red-shouldered Hawk in Flight Note the obvious crescents on the wings of this Red-shouldered Hawk.
	Red-shouldered Hawk, overhead This hawk flew overhead.
	Red-shouldered Hawk A red-shoulder in flight. Note the wing commas.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

	Broad-winged Hawk Here is a Broadwing flying high over Hawk Hill.
	Broad-winged Hawk Same hawk a little while later.

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

	Swainson over California Each year, the Swainson's Hawks migrate to Argentina. They gather in the Central Valley of California...
	Juvenile Swainson before flying south. In late August, the Central Valley is swarming with Swainson's...
	Juvenile Swainson staging before the big flight. It is usually a good time to try to photograph them.
	High Flying Swainson Some are quite high fliers.
	With a Stick? I guess this kid wanted the advantages of a perch while in flight?
	Adult in FLight The reverse wing pattern is diagnostic.
	Soaring There are a lot of kids...
	Flying Child Yet another California Swainson.
	Over the Central Valley Getting ready to migrate.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

	Adult Red-tail This bird is flying over the Mojave Desert, near Arizona.
	Juvenile Red-tail This one is in the Lower Klamath refuge.
	Juvenile Red-tail This one is over Hawk Hill.
	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk The next four pictures are a sequence of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that flew very near the Hill.
	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk Two of Four
	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk Three of Four
	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk Four of Four
	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk A young red-tailed hawk in flight.
	Red-tailed Hawk Adult red-tail. Notice the tail color.
	Red-tailed Hawk Another adult, with the tail backlit.
	Kettle of Red-tails Three juvenile and one adult red-tails.
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Several Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks gave us good looks.
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another look
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Another Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk.
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk And another
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk And another
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk The last redtail
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Circling
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Looking for
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk a thermal
	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Last look.
	A Pair of Dark Morph Red-tails This pair of dark-morph red-tails was cute.
	Dark-morph Red-tail Then one sat alone
	Dark-morph Red-tail And waited

Madagascar Buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)

Note: There is a sequence of fifteen photographs of a Madagascar Buzzard fighting with a Pied Crow in the Madagascar Galleries.

Madagascar Buzzard This buzzard was flying over Ampijoroa.

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

	Ferruginous Hawk in Utah Cisco, Utah is one of the best places to see wintering birds of prey. This Ferruginous Hawk was on a power pole on the road to Moab.
	Another Look When he flew I continued with my pictures.
	Flying Away He finally flew away.
	Ferruge in Cisco, 2001 Another ferruginous hawk.
	Ferruginous Hawk A ferruginous hawk, on a telephone pole.

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

	Rough-leg in flight. Reflection from snow cover at Klamath lit up this hawk.
	Going by the road This rough-legged hawk in Washington flew near the road.
	In flight The rough-legged hawk was at Lower Klamath Refuge.
	2004 #1 2004 was a good year for Rough-legged Hawks in Klamath.
	2004 #2 These two pictures were of a well-lit Roughleg in flight.
	2004 #3 Here is one perched.

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

	Augur Buzzard in Kenya This Augur Buzzard was in Nairobi National Park.
	A Better Look This one was in Ngorongoro.

Aquila Eagles

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

	Juvenile Golden Eagle Note all the white on the wings and tail, that shows it is immature.
	Adult Golden Eagle This eagle was patient enough to let us read the sign.
	In Flight This eagle was flying low near Tonopah, Nevada.
	Continuing... The flight continues.
	Wintering A golden eagle was wintering in Cisco.
	In flight This golden eagle was soaring over the Panamint Valley.
	Sitting in Cisco As was this one.

Order SAGITTERIIFORMES

Family SAGITTARIIDAE

Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius

	1999 Secretary Bird The open fields of the Serengeti are a good place to see this odd raptor.
	2001 Secretary Bird They are looking for prey to kill with their powerful feet.

Order FALCONIFORMES

Family FALCONIDAE

Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

	In Foster City This falcon was by the elementary school.
	In Joshua Tree On top of a Yucca plant, a good perch.
	In Hand In hand the falcon does not look happy.
	Female Kestrel This is a female kestrel as seen at Tule Lake.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinninculus)

Common Kestrel Of course, one sees a falcon at the temple of Horus, the Egyptian Falcon God.

Malagasy Spotted Kestrel (Falco newtoni)

Also known as the Madagascar Kestrel.

In Berenty This falcon was fairly common in Madagascar.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

	In Hand I still seek a good Merlin in flight picture...
	In Hand Two Here he has his wings spread
	On a post The Merlin perched on a post at Grizzly Island.

Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)

	Prairie Falcon My first prairie falcon was on a pole about a half mile away.
	Flying Away And it flew quite quickly.
	In Utah This falcon was at Cisco, home of wintering raptors.
	Fast Flier And he flew, too.
	In Skagit This one did not fly. He was later attacked by a harrier.
	In California This falcon was near the town of Tulelake.
	Sacramento A Prairie Falcon visited the Sacramanto Wildlife Refuge.
	Prairie Falcon The prairie falcon is a rare bird
	Prairie Falcon to keep as still as this one did!
	Prairie Falcon Still sitting...
	Prairie Falcon Still sitting...
	Prairie Falcon Still sitting...
	Prairie Falcon You almost never get this close!

Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)

Lanner Falcon At a Singapore falconry exhibit.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

	In Klamath My first attempt at a photograph was horribly backlit.
	Cape May Falcon This one was flying near the Cape May hawkwatch platform.
	In Hand In hand, the strong moustache is distinct.
	Another look Looking at one mean bird!
	And another This gives a good profile of the head with the wing.
	At Cape May This one was flying high, but you can still see the distinctive moustache.
	Buffy Buffy is a resident peregrine at Cape May in 2002. Buffy hunts for the pigeons near the platform and usually gives a good show.

These pictures are of mixed groups of raptors and could not be grouped in a single species.

	Accipiter Comparison Compare the Accipiters: Note the size difference between the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, and the general shape.
	In dispute The Eurasian Kestrel is chased by the Egyptian Vulture.
	At the Kill A large group of vultures are at a kill.
	Attack! The Northern Harrier attempted to intimidate the Prairie Falcon.

Buy My Pictures
Return to the Thematic Galleries
Return to the Galleries Page
Return to my home page

All images © Copyright 1993-2005, James C. Armstrong, Jr.
All Rights Reserved