Hi, first posting...
Trying to identify a large hawk or eagle that I saw in the road (alive) on Sept 8, 2018.
Saw this big fellow standing motionless in the center of the lane on a 2 lane country road, holding a severed furry tail (and attached guts) of something in it's talons of one of it's feet. It was as if he was guarding his meal. Looked rather large.
Size: approx 14-16" tall, puffy (9-10" diameter at chest). Can't say wingspan as he sat with wings folded the entire time.
We drove by slowly and he looked at us like he was only mildly annoyed at our presence. Didn't seem perturbed at all.
Made a u-turn and came back for a second pass and to take a picture. A few other cars had stopped and were wondering what to do. It may have been unclear to them if the bit of guts it was holding was it's own innards. However as we made the 2nd pass he hopped to the shoulder and it seemed the guts were not his, just something he was carrying.
Any ideas what type of bird this is? And why so large.. is it really that big or just puffing itself up in defense, etc?
Pictures attached.
Trying to identify a large hawk or eagle that I saw in the road (alive) on Sept 8, 2018.
Saw this big fellow standing motionless in the center of the lane on a 2 lane country road, holding a severed furry tail (and attached guts) of something in it's talons of one of it's feet. It was as if he was guarding his meal. Looked rather large.
Size: approx 14-16" tall, puffy (9-10" diameter at chest). Can't say wingspan as he sat with wings folded the entire time.
We drove by slowly and he looked at us like he was only mildly annoyed at our presence. Didn't seem perturbed at all.
Made a u-turn and came back for a second pass and to take a picture. A few other cars had stopped and were wondering what to do. It may have been unclear to them if the bit of guts it was holding was it's own innards. However as we made the 2nd pass he hopped to the shoulder and it seemed the guts were not his, just something he was carrying.
Any ideas what type of bird this is? And why so large.. is it really that big or just puffing itself up in defense, etc?
Pictures attached.
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