It is a regular breeder and uncommon migrant. In Oregon, Peregrines occur as resident and migratory populations. Peregrines are medium-sized raptors, and share characteristics with all falcons: bill conspicuously toothed and notched, presence of a nasal cone, and pointed wings for swift flight. It has, for perhaps 4,000 years, been used by falconers because of its skill in capturing game birds in tandem hunts with humans. They are one of Oregon's boldest raptors, and have been observed usurping active Golden eagle nest sites, stealing fish from Ospreys and ground squirrels from adult Bald eagles who stray into their territory. They are described as the fastest animal on the planet, and have been recorded reaching speeds in excess of 240 miles an hour in dives after prey. Peregrine falcons are among the most charismatic and noted of the world's birds. ![]() The American kestrel breeds statewide in open terrain from sea level to the alpine zone in the mountains. These birds soar with their long and pointed wings flat, and regularly hover over open and partly open country with scattered trees, including cultivated lands and occasionally suburban areas. Females are slightly larger than males and have reddish-brown backs and upper wing coverts that are barred with dark brown. Juvenile males are similar to adult males but have heavily streaked breasts. The tail has a wide black subterminal band. Adult males have rufous backs and tails with blue-grey upper wing coverts. It has two considerably different plumages: adult male and female and juvenile males differ somewhat from adult males until post-juvenile mold in fall. The Northern goshawk is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the East Cascades and West Cascades ecoregions.įormerly known in American literature as the Sparrow hawk, this is the smallest (dove-sized) and most familiar and abundant member of the family Falconidae in North America and one of the easiest raptors to observe. It is an uncommon to fairly common permanent resident in suitable habitat between 1,900 - 6,100 foot elevation in forested portions of the Cascade, Blue, and Klamath mountains. Tails of both adults and immatures have dark bands. When perched, the short wings of the goshawk do not reach the midpoint of the tail. An eye-stripe, if present, helps identify a goshawk. Immatures are generally brown with strong striping on the underparts. Adult plumage color is generally silver-gray on the upperparts and barred pale grayish-white on the underparts. It is approximately the size of the Common raven. The Northern goshawk has short, broad, round-tipped wings and a long tail. Like others of the genus it is morphologically adapted to maneuvering through forest landscapes and usually uses an ambush approach to capturing prey although if prey tries to escape, it quickly pursues.įrom Turkey to Japan, goshawks are favored over falcons for falconry, and a limited number of permits are issued in Oregon for taking goshawks for falconry purposes. and Canadian forest hawks known as accipiters, this is by far the most impressive because of its size and aggressiveness. During fall migration, many birds move through the state to wintering grounds farther south. It is an uncommon transient and winter visitor across the state in wooded areas or semi-open country. ![]() It is least common in the breeding season in southeastern Oregon, where most forests are widely disjunct and separated by arid brushland. The Sharp-shinned hawk is an uncommon breeder throughout Oregon in forested areas from sea level to timberline. Males average about 57 percent the body mass of females. The eyes of adults are a striking crimson. ![]() But prevailing attitudes have changed, and today a glimpse of this slender, secretive hawk darting through the treetops is more likely to elicit admiration than malice.Īdult plumage, nearly identical to the slightly larger Cooper's hawk, consists of slate gray back and wings, breast and sides barred with rufous and white, and a black and gray banded tail. Across the U.S., many thousands were shot in the first half of the 20th century. ![]() The Sharp-shinned hawk is North America's smallest and most migratory accipiter.Īs a hunter of songbirds (and sometimes young chickens) it historically endured harsh reproach, and was often depicted as a blood-thirsty villain, even by some ornithologists.
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