{"id":21472,"date":"2015-04-08T06:12:20","date_gmt":"2015-04-08T12:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=21472"},"modified":"2021-03-31T15:53:17","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T21:53:17","slug":"return-of-the-swainsons-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/04\/08\/return-of-the-swainsons-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"Return of the Swainson’s Hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdultAdult Swainson’s Hawk Calling – Nikon D300, f8, 1\/400, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited (2012)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week I saw my first of the season Swainson’s Hawk not too far from the visitor’s center at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a> and that got me excited. The Swainson’s Hawk I saw already had nesting material in it’s bill. Soon I will be seeing these handsome hawks in many locations in Utah, Idaho and Montana. This time of the year I will see adults…<\/p>\n

\"Sub-adultSub-adult Swainson’s Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited (2013)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And sub-adults like this one I photographed in the Centennial Valley of Montana two summers ago. That fall I saw a kettle of about 70 Swainson’s Hawks over a field just about the time they would begin to migrate south, I was in awe seeing so many of them together like that.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Swainson’s Hawk in flight – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 170mm, natural light, not baited (2014)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I won’t see juvenile Swainson’s Hawks until later in the summer but I always enjoy watching and photographing them once they have fledged and are learning to hunt on their own.<\/p>\n

All of these images were taken in the Centennial Valley of Montana. It was in that valley that I photographed my very first Swainson’s Hawk juvenile, I will never forget that!<\/p>\n

With the return of the Swainson’s Hawks will it be the summer of the Swainson’s? Time will tell.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Swainson\u2019s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week I saw my first of the season Swainson’s Hawk not too far from the visitor’s center at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and that got me excited.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1513,27,223,12,608,206],"tags":[4004,4021,2663,3489,4200,4033,4169,2237,4071,530,2239,4034],"class_list":["post-21472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-avian","category-centennial-valley","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","category-swainson-hawks","tag-adult","tag-bird-photography","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-buteo","tag-buteo-swainsoni","tag-hawk","tag-hawks","tag-hawks-of-montana","tag-juvenile","tag-migration","tag-sub-adult","tag-swainsons-hawk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/swainsons-hawk-sub-adult-mia-mcpherson-7348.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-5Ak","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":105569,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/29\/dark-morph-swainsons-hawk-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":0},"title":"Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Early yesterday morning on my way to the auto tour route at Bear River MBR I was delighted to see and photograph not just one dark morph Swainson's Hawk but two.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk in lift off pose, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/swainsons-hawk-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-8199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/swainsons-hawk-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-8199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/swainsons-hawk-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-8199.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/swainsons-hawk-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-8199.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8552,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/09\/swainsons-hawks-in-montana-and-the-chase-is-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":1},"title":"Swainson’s Hawks In Montana – And The Chase Is On","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I've just returned from spending six wonderful days photographing in western Montana, the weather was lovely, the scenery spectacular and the birds; as usual, were awesome including these two Swainson's Hawks.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Swainson\u2019s Hawk in its first spring, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/swainson-hawk-second-year-mia-mcpherson-7341.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/swainson-hawk-second-year-mia-mcpherson-7341.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/swainson-hawk-second-year-mia-mcpherson-7341.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/swainson-hawk-second-year-mia-mcpherson-7341.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6592,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/11\/17\/swainsons-hawk-in-the-centennial-valley-of-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":2},"title":"Swainson’s Hawk in the Centennial Valley of Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This adult Swainson's had two juveniles nearby that were perched on the conifer tree that their natal nest was in and the sun was getting close to setting. Sometimes I wish I could \"speak\" raptor so I could know what they are saying.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calling adult Swainson's Hawk","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/swainsons-hawk-adult-calling-mia-mcpherson-3534.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/swainsons-hawk-adult-calling-mia-mcpherson-3534.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/swainsons-hawk-adult-calling-mia-mcpherson-3534.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/swainsons-hawk-adult-calling-mia-mcpherson-3534.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13195,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/01\/11\/an-adult-swainsons-hawk-and-its-young-in-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":3},"title":"An adult Swainson’s Hawk and its young in Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I can barely wait until spring when the Swainson's Hawks will migrate back from South America to fill the skies here with their beauty.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Swainson's Hawks and their nest","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/swainsons-hawk-nest-mia-mcpherson-3121.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/swainsons-hawk-nest-mia-mcpherson-3121.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/swainsons-hawk-nest-mia-mcpherson-3121.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6006,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/08\/28\/juvenile-swainsons-hawk-in-beaverhead-county-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":4},"title":"Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk in Beaverhead County, Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Not only did I see numerous Red-tailed Hawk juveniles on my recent trip to Montana, I also saw quite a few Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) juveniles too.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Swainson\u2019s Hawk juvenile, intermediate morph, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9067,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/01\/two-different-swainsons-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":21472,"position":5},"title":"Two different Swainson’s Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Red-tailed Hawks have the most variable plumages of North American hawks but Swainson's Hawks are also pretty variable, there are light morphs, intermediate morphs and dark morphs.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Swainson's Hawk intermediate morph","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/swainsons-hawk-adult-flying-mia-mcpherson-6956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/swainsons-hawk-adult-flying-mia-mcpherson-6956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/swainsons-hawk-adult-flying-mia-mcpherson-6956.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/swainsons-hawk-adult-flying-mia-mcpherson-6956.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21472\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}