Swainson's Hawk Gallery
The plumage of Swainson's Hawks are quite variable. Swainson's Hawks prefer open lands. They are often seen perching on power poles
and tall trees and soaring low and circling to great heights with the aid of rising air currents. They have a very distinctive piercing
squell that they seem to use to attract others of their kind. Swainson Hawks' diet is opportunistic but they mainly eat small mammals
such as rodents and insects such as grass hoppers, butterflies and dragonflies.[1] They range in "Western North America from the Mississippi
to the Pacific Ocean, and Hudson Bay to southern California."[2]
Skull and Jaw
Portion of Cartilage
Around Eye Socket
Wing Bones (Disarticulared)
Humerus
(2 Views)
Radius (Left)
Ulna (Right)
Carpometacarpus
(2 Views)
Phalanx
(2 Views)
Swanson's Hawk Skeleton[3]
Swainson's Hawk Flight Feathers
Bird flight feathers are asymmetrical.
The Head
The Wing
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Keeled Sternum
(3 Views)
Needed to attach strong flight muscles.
Scapula
(2 Views)
Coracoid
(2 Views)
Coracoid and Scapula
Still Articulared
Furcula (Wishbone)
(2 Views)
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[1] Swainson's Hawk, Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Hawk/lifehistory
[2]
Reed, Charles, Western Bird Guide, Birds of the Rockies and West to the Pacific, (Worchester, MA, 1913),110
[3] This skeleton is from
a Swainson's Hawk that died from unknown causes. It was found near a power line and appears to have been later run over by a piece
of farm equipment.
Furcula, Coracoid and Scapula
Hinged Ribs
Not placed in order
The Keeled Sternum and Ribs