Red-shouldered Hawks – Mating Behavior
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Yesterday early morning while golf cart birding, I spotted a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks in a pine tree. I stopped for this shot, including seeing the power lines crossing my ‘scene’ as I took the photo. Ugh. Must get better shot, I thought!
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Red-shouldered Hawks (male top, female bottom)
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I quickly moved while trying to get my lens back on the scene. At the same time, the male dropped down to the female and began mating!
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Red-shouldered Hawks mating
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Red-shouldered Hawks mating
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As is with birds, it was over just as quick as it started. But what followed I had not seen before. The female immediately began to nip at the male’s feathers. Bonding bites?
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Female nipping male
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Female nipping male as he edges away
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Female continues the bonding nips
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Female is saying something?
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Just then some sunshine popped through the clouds, perfect timing for this next funny shot.
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“Ooooh, Baby!”
(male gets excited/fluffs up, as the female watches)
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She must have said something pretty good, you think? 😏
(Fact: Red-shouldered Hawks are monogamous and usually mate for life.)
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