Red-tailed Hawk with Long bill syndrome Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed syndrome, Tooele County, Utah
D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Please see the comment below from Bud Anderson of the Falcon Research Group for more information on this hawk and Long bill syndrome.

This morning while coming home from photographing in Tooele County, Utah I spotted and pointed out this Red-tailed Hawk perched on a utility pole along side the road. I thought I might get a take off shot of the bird so I started to take some images, through my viewfinder though I noticed that something was very wrong with the hawk’s bill.

I was unable to stay on the road for very long because of traffic but I was able to get some images that showed the deformity clearly.

I’ve emailed the Falcon Research Group with this image and I plan to contact the Salt Lake Audubon and Hawk Watch International at their Headquarters here in Salt Lake City to see if they can advise me on whom to contact regarding this Red-tailed Hawk. Without intervention this beautiful raptor could perish.

Thanks in advance,

Mia