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Swainson's Hawk Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite:  I always think Swainson's Hawks are so gorgeous to begin with, but really loved getting this one in the warm morning light.  He clearly had just fed, as you can tell by the dried blood on his feet. Taken in May 2005 near Lake Thompson in Kingsbury County, South Dakota.

Photo of Swainson's Hawk - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 1 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 2  - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 3 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 4 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 1

Swainson's Hawk 2

Swainson's Hawk 3

Swainson's Hawk 4

April 17th, 2006 

August 17th, 2004 

August 17th, 2004 

April 30th, 2005 

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

Fort Pierre National Grasslands, South Dakota 

Fort Pierre National Grasslands, South Dakota 

Kingsbury County, South Dakota 

Intermediate / Rufous morph bird in fresh spring plumage 

First-year, juvenile bird on fence post 

First-year, juvenile bird on fence post Light-morph bird taking flight from fence post

Swainson's Hawk 5 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 6 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 7 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 8 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 5

Swainson's Hawk 6

Swainson's Hawk 7

Swainson's Hawk 8

April 30th, 2005 

April 17th, 2006 

April 30th, 2005

May 3rd, 2005 

Kingsbury County, South Dakota

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

Kingsbury County, South Dakota 

Kingsbury County, South Dakota 

Light-morph bird in flight, showing underwing 

Intermediate-morph bird posed on a fence post Light-morph bird in flight, showing top of wings

Light-morph bird, fresh off a meal (blood on talons) 

Swainson's Hawk 9 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 10 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 11 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 12 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 9

Swainson's Hawk 10

Swainson's Hawk 11

Swainson's Hawk 12

June 21st, 2008 

June 21st, 2008 

July 23rd, 2011 

July 23rd, 2011 

Northern California 

Northern California 

Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota 

Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota 

Dark-morph adult posing on a telephone pole 

Dark-morph adult posing on a telephone pole

Intermediate morph adult posing on a fence amidst flowers 

Intermediate morph adult posing on a fence amidst flowers

Swainson's Hawk 13 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 14 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 15 - Buteo swainsoni 

Swainson's Hawk 16 - Buteo swainsoni 

Swainson's Hawk 13

Swainson's Hawk 14

Swainson's Hawk 15

Swainson's Hawk 16

July 23rd, 2011 

April 24th, 2011 

April 15th, 2017 

April 29th, 2016 

Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota 

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

Intermediate morph adult posting on fence amidst flowers 

Intermediate morph posing on a wooden fence post 

Light morph in flight with full wing spread 

Light morph bird posing on a fence post

Swainson's Hawk 17 - Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's Hawk 18 - Buteo swainsoni 

Swainson's Hawk 19 - Buteo swainsoni 

 

Swainson's Hawk 17 

Swainson's Hawk 18 

Swainson's Hawk 19

 

April 29th, 2016 

April 16th, 2018 

April 16th, 2018  

 

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

Minnehaha County, South Dakota  

Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

 

Light morph bird about to take flight from a fence post 

Light/intermediate morph bird in early morning sun 

Dark-morph bird giving over-the-shoulder look at back plumage 

 

Click here for the species description page for the Swainson's Hawk

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl