Large Birds

Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicenses (Accipitridae)

Cool fact – This is the most common hawk on campus and in the Lehigh Valley. It can often be seen taking squirrels for a meal on campus, especially in the winter when other
food is in short supply.
Field Marks- Typical hawk body type is the first thing to look for. The bird also has a dark band of feathers across the belly that is characteristic. Adults have the easily recognized rusty red tail, but this is often not seen when birds are soaring.
Occurrence Status- Resident

Call

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura (Cathartidae)

Cool fact – Turkey vultures can be seen soaring over South Mountain almost any time of year, especially in the warmer months. They catch updrafts from the "wave" of upwelling air created by wind coming across the mountain or "thermals" from air updrafts coming off of dark heated surfaces on sunny days. Turkey Vultures have the most developed sense of smell in the bird world and can smell carrion from a mile away.
Field Marks- When in flight, these birds show the black and silver look seen in the picture. While in the air they hold their wings in a slight V and teeter in the breeze as if they are unsteady flyers. This is the largest common bird of the area with a wingspan of 6 feet.
Occurrence Status- Resident

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Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus (Strigidae)

Cool fact – Although the beaks of owls look threatening, it is their talons that are most dangerous and the tool of choice that generally kills their prey. They have excellent binocular vision due to the frontal location of their eyes, and pupils that open
large to enable them to see at night. Owl Feathers are also fringed, edged like a saw knife, which prevents them from making noise in flight. Thus even a large owl like the great horned owl can stalk prey in silence.
Field Marks- Rarely seen due to effective camouflage and their mostly nocturnal activity, these birds are most easily identified when heard calling at night (do not confuse call with mourning dove, see below). When seen distinguishing features are the oversized eyes and the feather tufts on the head which give the bird its name.
Occurrence Status- Resident

Call

Canada Goose Branta canadensis (Anatidae)

Cool Fact- Canadian Geese have developed into a variety of subspecies. The largest subspecies is the Giant Canada Goose which has a 6-foot wingspan and weighs 16-24 pounds. The smallest is the "cackling" Canada goose which weighs only 2-4 pounds.
Field Marks- An unmistakable large waterfowl. The black head and white "chinstrap" are the most distinct features. Also easily recognized by their honking calls and distinct flying V's seen overhead
Occurrence Status- Resident

Call

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos (Corvidae)

Cool Fact- During fall and winter crows form communal roosts which can contain thousands of birds. One of these large groups of crows often roosts on or near campus. Just before evening they can be seen passing overhead in an almost constant stream of birds. If you happen upon the roosting spot of the night the bare trees will seem full again as hundreds of crows pack onto every available perch. Hearing a racket of crows is also a sign that a bird of prey is in the area. The crows will chase down and harass a hawk or owl, blowing the bird of preys cover with loud alarms and mobbing the predators with a barrage of pecks.
Field Marks- Unmistakable when landed or calling. They can be distinguished in flight from other large birds by their complete jet-blackness and their constant flapping flight
Occurrence Status- Resident

Call

Cooper's Hawk Accipter cooperii (Accipitrinae)

Cool Fact- This bird hunts by darting through vegetation to capture prey. This can be risky and a large number of examined hawks are found to have healing fractures. Once they have captured prey these birds squeeze with their talons to kill. Some birds have even been observed holding prey under water to kill it.
Field Marks- The Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawk are almost identical but the size and tail shape can tell them apart. The Coopers is about the size of a American Crow, while the Sharp-shinned is about the size of a Blue Jay. The tail on a Cooper's is also longer and more rounded than that of the Sharp-shinned which is shorter and more angular.
Occurrence Status- Resident

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Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipter striatus (Accipitrinae)

Cool Fact- These birds are a common migrant but have been decreasing in number at migration counts. Some people think this may be due to the fact that many birds have started to hunt at bird feeders during the winter instead of making the migration route.
Field Marks- The Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawk are almost identical but the size and tail shape can tell them apart. The Coopers is about the size of a American Crow, while the Sharp-shinned is about the size of a Blue Jay. The tail on a Cooper's is also longer and more rounded than that of the Sharp-shinned which is shorter and more angular.
Occurrence Status- Year round visitor. Most common during spring and fall migration times.

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