Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsonii
- Habitat: Near seacoasts, rivers, large lakes, oceans, and other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish
- Range: Most of North America, including most of Canada, all of the continental United States and northern Mexico
- Natural Diet: Small mammals and grasshoppers/locusts.
- Status In The Wild: Least Concern(Common)
Fun Facts
- Swainson’s hawks are raptors that migrate long distances. They make an approximately 6,000 mile journey from the temperate zone of North America to their wintering grounds in South America
- The hawk was named after William Swainson, a British Ornithologist
- Although, they hunt rodents, they also voraciously feed on insects and are commonly called grasshopper hawk or locust hawk
- They are monogamous and form mated pairs for long durations of time.
- They practice biparental care with females brooding eggs and feeding chicks while the male hunts and brings food for his family
Conservation Threats
The major threats are:
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Loss of habitat due to urbanization has had a detrimental effect on their free-ranging population numbers
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Collision with traffic and electric wires are considered other forms of threat
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Their population numbers have also declined due to illegal hunting practices
