{"id":38531,"date":"2016-04-18T04:42:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-18T10:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=38531"},"modified":"2026-02-02T07:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T13:05:59","slug":"adult-intermediate-morph-swainsons-hawk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/04\/18\/adult-intermediate-morph-swainsons-hawk\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult Intermediate Morph Swainson’s Hawk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Swainson'sSwainson’s Hawk with a vole – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I probably don’t say often enough that I feel so grateful to do what I do, to photograph my wild subjects in their natural habitats, and to be able to follow my passion of creating images of such beautiful creatures.<\/p>\n

To know that my subjects have no hate, no egos, and no malice and that they do what they do to survive and procreate. I felt all of that yesterday when I photographed this handsome adult intermediate morph Swainson’s Hawk.<\/p>\n

That said, if you prefer not to view graphic images such as a hawk eating a vole, you might want to stop reading and viewing right here. Personally, I don’t find it gross or offensive, the hawk is just doing what comes naturally to a predator of the sky.<\/p>\n

\"Swainson'sSwainson’s Hawk eating a vole – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I saw this Swainson’s Hawk catch this vole but the capture was obstructed by grasses and sagebrush so I waited and I photographed the hawk again once it landed on a perch and began to devour the vole. They are quite efficient at stripping out what they eat and leaving the rest.<\/p>\n

\"BoxBox Elder County Swainson’s Hawk – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The hawk didn’t take long at all to finish eating the vole and it scraped its bill on the fence post and cleaned off one of its talons before a vehicle speeding by chased the hawk off of its perch.<\/p>\n

\"PreeningPreening Swainson’s Hawk – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The hawk didn’t fly very far and landed on another fence post nearby to finish its post meal preening session. They do get into some odd looking poses while preening and I find all of them amusing.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Swainson’s Hawk preening – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Like this image where the hawk was preening a feather on its neck and still had it grasped in its bill.<\/p>\n

The hawk might look goofy but I still feel it is important to present my subjects doing what they do naturally and I realize that not everyone has the opportunities I do to see this happening in the wild.<\/p>\n

He still had blood on his talons and bill when I left.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Swainson’s Hawk close up – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

This Swainson’s Hawk was right next to the road in Box Elder County<\/span><\/a> the entire time I photographed it and I was able to get a series of it it where the hawk nearly filled the frame from top to bottom. Then he lifted off and flew low and straight overhead to a field behind me to look for prey on the ground. I wasn’t ready when he flew right at me, I wish I had gotten those shots too.<\/p>\n

I saw quite a few Swainson’s Hawks yesterday though none of them were as cooperative as this one was. I am glad to see them back from South America.<\/p>\n

Have I mentioned that I love what I do?<\/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":"

This Swainson’s Hawk was right next to the road the entire time I photographed it and I was able to get a series of it it where the hawk nearly filled the frame from top to bottom. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38516,"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":[1148,206,26],"tags":[4004,2663,4200,2497,4142,4286,4169,5045,4019,153,4034,4290],"class_list":["post-38531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-swainson-hawks","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-buteo-swainsoni","tag-buteos","tag-close-up","tag-eating","tag-hawks","tag-intermediate-morph","tag-preening-2","tag-raptors","tag-swainsons-hawk","tag-vole"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/swainsons-hawk-intermediate-vole-mia-mcpherson-7847.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-a1t","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":38531,"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":9067,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/01\/two-different-swainsons-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":38531,"position":1},"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":[]},{"id":67742,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/03\/31\/swainsons-hawk-chicks-sub-adult-and-adults\/","url_meta":{"origin":38531,"position":2},"title":"Swainson’s Hawk Chicks, Sub-adult And Adults","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"These are the life stages of the Swainson's Hawks I see, observe and photograph here in Utah, Idaho and Montana.","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":"Two Swainson's Hawk chicks on their nest tree, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swainsons-hawk-chicks-nest-mia-mcpherson-3125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swainsons-hawk-chicks-nest-mia-mcpherson-3125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swainsons-hawk-chicks-nest-mia-mcpherson-3125.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swainsons-hawk-chicks-nest-mia-mcpherson-3125.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51915,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/05\/01\/sub-adult-dark-morph-swainsons-hawk-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":38531,"position":3},"title":"Sub-adult Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"All of the Swainson's I photographed the first day of May last year were adults except for what I believe was a sub-adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk and I thought that hawk was a real beauty.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rousing sub-adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/swainsons-hawk-sub-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-7258.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/swainsons-hawk-sub-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-7258.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/swainsons-hawk-sub-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-7258.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/swainsons-hawk-sub-adult-dark-morph-mia-mcpherson-7258.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42236,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/09\/26\/autumn-swainsons-hawk\/","url_meta":{"origin":38531,"position":4},"title":"Autumn Swainson’s Hawk","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Mid-morning I found a perched intermediate morph Swainson's Hawk in Box Elder County and was delighted when it didn't fly off immediately.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Intermediate morph Swainson's Hawk staring at me","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/swinsons-hawk-intermediate-morph-mia-mcpherson-3840.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/swinsons-hawk-intermediate-morph-mia-mcpherson-3840.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/swinsons-hawk-intermediate-morph-mia-mcpherson-3840.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/swinsons-hawk-intermediate-morph-mia-mcpherson-3840.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51822,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/04\/26\/intermediate-morph-swainsons-hawk-in-flight\/","url_meta":{"origin":38531,"position":5},"title":"Intermediate Morph Swainson’s Hawk In Flight","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I was able to photograph several Swainson's Hawks, some perched and others while in flight and of the flight photos I liked this photo the most because of the mountains in the background.","rel":"","context":"In "Box Elder County"","block_context":{"text":"Box Elder County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/box-elder-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Intermediate morph Swainson's Hawk in flight with mountains in the background, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/swainsons-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-9821.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/swainsons-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-9821.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/swainsons-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-9821.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/swainsons-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-9821.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\/38531","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=38531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}