Swainson’s Hawk in Colorado? Not migrating for winter? (1 Viewer)

[ANeville]

Hi everyone! New here.

I’ve been tracking a family of birds a bit south of Denver, Colorado since the spring. I thought it was a Swainson’s Hawk family. There was a pair. I watched at least one build their nest, they both took turns incubating eggs, and had 3 fledglings. At least one bird has not migrated. I’m thinking it’s the adult male from the mating pair based on my observations. I’ve been worried about it. Is it a Swainson’s hawk? Why would one not have migrated to South America?

 

[DHayden]

I would call it a Swainson's Hawk for sure. As to why it has not migrated, I can only speculate. Milder winters and a good supply of a food source is a possibility. I'm seeing some birds on bird counts that should have migrated south that are still around.

 

[rkj]

Certainly it is a Swainson's Hawk. I do not know the situation in Colorado, but I do know a few winter in California.

 

[qwerty5]

eBird only has two records from November through February in Colorado, so this is quite exceptional, especially if it continues for a while.

 

[ANeville]

Thanks everyone! Glad my identification was correct, but it is curious that the bird is still here. Is there an organization I should notify, so they can track him/her?

 

[Ruff-Leg]

There is a Colorado Rare Bird Alert Facebook page which might do the trick. Otherwise, most would report this via eBird.

 

[Gregg Martin]

Very interesting, I follow this as the Swainson's has nested close to me before in Boise, Id. A disjunct group apparently summers in the Yukon Territory, so they are not immune to the cold, obviously anyway. I suspect it simply decided not to leave, if prey is plentiful, roosting out of the weather a possibility, why leave if your bird brain tells you not to? I will continue to read updates, fascinating!