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Bald Eagle On the brink of extirpation from New York State, this bird was successfully reestablished in the state through DEC’s restoration program. Frequently associated with large lakes and rivers, it feeds primarily on fish and waterfowl. A large massive, long-winged raptor, it measures up to 35” long, with a wingspan of up to 89”. Young birds are dark brown with varying amounts of white. The white head and tail occur at about four years of age. Breeds near water, building nests in very large trees (often white pines) in areas of low human disturbance. Winters throughout New York. Wings held flat in flight. |
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Golden Eagle A large, dark eagle with a golden head and back of neck. The white plumage of the immature golden is restricted to the tail and the base of the flight feathers. Grows up to 33” long , with a wingspan of up to 87”. Feeds on mammals and birds, preferring open country for hunting, but also found near wetlands. Franklin Mountain in Oneonta is a premier eagle site in the U.S. Also seen in the Adirondacks and winters in southern New York. While soaring, wings are held flat or in a moderate V, flight is steady. |
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Turkey Vulture Large, gregarious carrion-feeding raptor, the turkey vulture grows up to 28” long, with a wingspan up to 71”. Dark except from below, when the trailing edge of the wing looks silver, contrasting with the black under parts and the gray tail. Adults have un-feathered red heads and yellow-white bills; immature vultures have naked gray heads and gray bills. Wings are generally held in a deep V; often rocks in flight, rarely flapping. Nests in trees, caves, thickets and old buildings. The smaller, less common black vulture with a short, stubby tail is sometimes seen in southeastern New York. |
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Peregrine Falcon A swift falcon with long pointed wings, the crow-sized peregrine hunts birds in open areas. Nests on bridges and tall buildings in urban areas. Also found on cliffs in the Adirondacks and occasionally in the Hudson Valley. Reaches lengths up to 18”, with a wingspan up to 46”. Adults are gray above and barred below with a white chest and throat. Immature falcons are brown above and streaked below with a buff colored chest and throat. Distinctive dark cheek patches below the eyes. Vocal and aggressive near the nest which is in a depression. Restoration programs by DEC and others resulted in a dramatic comeback after pesticide-induced decline. Seen during migration at hawk lookouts and on Long Island, often migrating in pairs. |
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American Kestrel A robin sized falcon, frequently perches on power lines and hovers over fields or grassy areas where it hunts insects, small mammals and birds, reptiles and amphibians. Reaches lengths up to 11”, with a wingspan of up to 24”. Two vertical dark streaks on the side of the face resemble a mustache and a sideburn. Males have rusty backs, blue wings and bright reddish tails with a broad, dark band near the tip. Females are reddish brown and barred above. Both sexes lightly streaked and spotted below. Nests in cavities. Migrates. Most common and widely-dispersed raptor in New York. |
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Merlin A Larger than blue jay sized stocky, aggressive and quick falcon. Up to 12” long, with a wingspan of up to 27”. Adult males are blue-gray above, lighter and more finely streaked below. Females and immature birds are dark brown above, with heavy streaks on the under parts and a white throat. All have pale mustache marks and many narrow white tail bands. Nests in trees at forest edges in the Adirondacks, most often in conifers using old bird or squirrel nests, broken tree tops or cavities. Seen regularly as a migrant in the fall along the coast where they often harass other birds. |
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Red-Tailed Hawk New York’s most common hawk, the large sturdy “red tail” is often seen soaring over fields, perched in trees or on top of power poles along highways. Up to 22” long, with a wingspan of up to 56”. Brown to gray-brown above and light below with variable streaking and generally a dark belly band on a white chest. Adults have the reddish tail, immature hawks have a brown tail. All have a dark leading edge to the wing when viewed from underneath. Sometimes hover when hunting their prey of small mammals and birds. An adaptable species that places its bulky stick nests high up in trees adjacent to open fields, occasionally in wooded swamps and marshes. Some birds are year-round residents. Uncommon in winter. |
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Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District - Home |
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Raptors of New York |
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Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District 1200A Scottsville Road, Suite 160 Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: 585-473-2120 x3 Fax: 585-473-2124 |
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Page updated: July 2007 |
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Providing Today, Protecting Tomorrow |