Harris's Hawk, Tucson08

Gallery: AvianPosted February 7, 201160 views5 comments

Hi all, this is my first avian posting, I usually post photos of sheds and shacks but this may be of intest. This is a Mexican and south American hawk at the northern limit of its range in Tucson Arizona. I am a wildlife hab biologist and a tox person so I was very keen to record this. It is not my best photo, this was the first time using a new 300 mm lens at the time. Shot with my old Canon Xsi, 4.5 at 1/500 s, ISO 400. Both softened and sharpened in Nic efex (contrast color range) then image / adjustments /curve. I like the posture but I realize the hind end of the bird is soft. This was in a cottonwood. This is one of the few social hawks, they hunt in family and social flocks, and it is considered rare in Arizona. Certainly not anywhere near here in western Canada!!

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 7, 2011 at 7:03 PM

Nice capture. good catch light in the eye. I am a little distracted by the hind end but I think its the difference in light that bothers me more than the softness. It is quite shaded compared to the front of the bird. I am not advanced enough in processing to know if there is a fix for it. I like this image, the pose and habitat are very natural.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 7, 2011 at 8:54 PM

Hi KatherineAnne,

Welcome to NPN's avian critique gallery, it is a great place to learn and grow as a photographer.

Interesting species, wish we had them in Utah. Was this a big crop? I'm detecting a lot of noise in the bird and the tree, if you loosen the crop it may help some with that and the comp wouldn't feel so tight.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 7, 2011 at 11:34 PM

It is not considered rare in Arizona, and occurs at least as far north in the state as the Phoenix metro area 100 miles north of Tucson.

Extensive populations occur in Arizona and Texas, with peripheral segments extending slightly into New Mexico. The species' range in Arizona is restricted to the southern half of the state. The area centered just north of Tucson is the heart of this range.

- The Raptors of Arizona, Richard L. Glinski, The University of Arizona Press 1998.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 8, 2011 at 12:04 AM

Interesting composition with the branch in the middle, the hawk in the center and the tree behind, good layering effect and habitat provided. Sharp on the head of the hawk and good color. This view shows the broad white area at the base of the tail very well. More room at the bottom for the bottom foot is needed.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by KatherineAnne Enns on February 8, 2011 at 10:21 AM

Thanks for the kind words, I think its a bit dark. I could have cropped it less, but its about one 8th the orig image. I entirely agree about the lower foot.

Re the distribution, mea culpa, I was told it was rare in Arizona by the Audobon Society in Tuscon and my other source was Sibley. Sibley says uncommon. I bow to your better authority, Richard. However, even 100 miles is a reasonable boundary on a northern limit for a raptor. I should have said uncommon. Its good that it is not rare!

Registered on January 5, 2011, 22 Posts, 137 Comments