Formerly called Sparrow Hawk due to its small size. Seen hovering near roads before diving for prey.Adapts quickly to a wooden nest box. Has pointed swept-back wings seen in flight. Perches nearly upright. Kestrels are rare raptors in that the males and females have quite different markings. Watch for them to pump their tails up and down after landing on perches. ( read more on this bird in Birds of massachusetts field guide)
Posted at: 11:25 AM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Great Horned Owl
January 7, 2008
Earliest nesting bird in Massachusetts, it lays eggs in January and February. Has excellent hearing; able to hear a mouse moving under a foot of snow. "Ears" are actually tufts of feathers (horns) and have nothing to do with hearing.Not able to turn head all the way around. Wing feathers are ragged on the end, resulting in a silent flite. Eyelids close from the top down, like humans.Fearless, it is one of the few animals that will kill skunks and porcupines. Because of this, it is sometimes called Flying Tiger. (this info is found in Birds of Massachusetts)