Birds in the Neighbourhood Features

A focus on raptors (part one)

Bird-watcher Frances Legault focuses the lenses of neighbourhood enthusiasts on hawks and ospreys

By Manor Park Chronicle

A photo of a broad-winged hawk peering over its shoulder

This edition of Birds in the Neighbourhood is part one of a special focus on raptors, also known as birds of prey, which thrive near our beautiful watersheds and in our woodlands.

There are 27 raptors that have been identified in Ontario. Many are here during breeding season only, while others stay year-round.

The three main categories are hawks, owls, and a third group which includes falcons, eagles, and vultures

For this feature, we will spread our wings throughout the Ottawa area and beyond where birders travel in search of amazing photographs.

Hawks

Broad-winged Hawk

Hawks can be found in the Ottawa area during breeding season. The Broad-winged Hawk is a small, stocky raptor with black-and-white bands on the tail.

Their most frequent prey consists of frogs, toads, and small rodents, but they have a broad diet that includes invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

One of the greatest spectacles of long-distance migration is a swirling flock of Broad-winged Hawks on their way to South America.

Also known as “kettles,” flocks can contain thousands of circling birds.

This broad-winged hawk was spotted on the look-out near Rockcliffe Airbase. Photo: James Cohen

Cooper’s Hawk

A Cooper’s Hawk at Mud Lake by James Cohen

Cooper’s Hawks are commonly found in the Ottawa area in woods or on the edge of fields. However, they are becoming more common around feeders in urban yards. These raptors are known for their flying agility and primarily eat songbirds. They have been observed to prey on Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and Mourning Doves.

If you are concerned about songbirds, try taking your feeders down for a few weeks. This will compel Cooper’s Hawks to look for food elsewhere, but don’t be surprised if they return as soon as you start feeding birds again.

As most hawks, males are significantly smaller than their mates. The danger is that female Cooper’s Hawks specialize in eating medium-sized birds. Males build the nest and provide nearly all the food to females and young for 90 days.

Osprey

The Osprey is unique among North American raptors for its diet of live fish and ability to dive into water to catch them. They are common sights along the Ottawa River soaring over shorelines, patrolling waterways, and standing on their huge stick nests. Hunting Ospreys are a picture of concentration, diving with feet outstretched. They are also common near local lakes.

This Osprey was found on the hunt at the at the Deschênes Rapids. Photo: James Cohen
These large hawks do well around humans and have rebounded in numbers following the ban on the pesticide DDT. Along the St. Lawrence River, it is common to see nest platforms built for osprey conservation, such as this nest at Thousand Islands. Photo: Sam Armstrong

Unable to dive no more than three feet below the water’s surface, Ospreys gravitate toward shallow fishing grounds, frequenting deep water only where fish school near the surface.

Ospreys are not divers but can catch fish in shallow waters or where fish tend to school near the surface. Photo: Sam Armstrong

Red-shouldered Hawk

This Red-shouldered Hawk was seen soaring, appropriately enough, at the Rockcliffe Airbase. Photo: James Cohen

The Red-shouldered Hawk breeds in southeastern Canada from the Great Lakes to the east coast near forests and water, but it is uncommon in our region.

It is one of the most distinctively marked hawks, with barred reddish-peachy underparts and a strongly banded tail. In flight, translucent crescents near the wingtips help to identify the species at a distance as in this photo. These forest hawks hunt prey ranging from mice to frogs and snakes.

References

Thanks to all our neighbourhood bird photographers who make this column possible. Please submit your photos to flegault52@gmail.com for Raptors Part 2: Owls, falcons, eagles, and vultures for the next edition.

Editor’s note: In Canadian Press style, and most other newspaper styles, bird names aren’t capitalized. However, in keeping with standard ornithological practice, English bird names are capitalized in this column.