Hawks

Notes and Illustrations to Assist Observers of the
Fall Migration of Hawks over the Blue Ridge Mountains

BIRDS OF PREY OBSERVED IN FALL MIGRATION ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA

Notes by Paul Saunier, Jr.
Illustrations by J. B. May

Buteos | Accipiters | Harriers | Falcons

Notes for Charlottesville-Area Hawkwatchers

Illustrations of harriers, accipiters and falcons are as they glide overhead at moderate speeds; others are shown in soaring configuration. All may spread tails in soaring and in fast glides hold their wingtips back and narrow their tails, greatly changing configuration. In most species, immature have brownish backs, brown and white streaked breasts, and faintly barred tails. Most reach adult plumage in second year, but eagles not until the fifth or sixth year.

Numbers denote average wingspans in inches male (M) and female (F).

Osprey

M 55" F 68"

brown above
light below
glides with wingtips down
dark wrists
top of head white

Bald Eagle

M 80" F 85"

adult has white head and tail;
immature blotchy brown

Golden Eagle

M 80" F 87"

shades of brown
immature shown has large white intermediate tailband

Turkey Vulture

M 70" F 70"

dark brown and gray;
often looks black;
heavy flaps, soars with wingtips up

Black Vulture

M 57" F 57"

adult has white wing patches below
quick flaps
short tail

BUTEOS

Stocky builds; usually circle and soar at intervals while migrating; glide at prey

Red-Shouldered Hawk

M 38" F 45"

brown above
patterned russet breast

Rough-Legged Hawk

M 50" F 54"

hovers
variable brown to black
usually has white base to tail

Broad-Winged Hawk

M 35" F 36"

brown above
patterned russet breast
wide outer tailbands

Red-Tailed Hawk
common resident

M 48" F 52"

brown above
light breast
tail russet above, light below

ACCIPITERS

Blue-gray above, patterned russet breasts;
flap and glide flight, overtakes prey

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

M 22" F 25"

square tail

Cooper's Hawk

M 28" F 33"

round tail

HARRIER

Northern Harrier
Only U.S. harrier;
formerly known as "Marsh Hawk"

M 42" F 49"

hovers, soars with wingtips up;
white rump
male shown is two-tone gray with black wingtips;
female brown above

FALCONS

Pointed wings, long tails, deep wing strokes, very fast

American Kestrel

M 21" F 22"

Hovers; rufous tails;
male has facial marks, male black bluish;
female brownish

Merlin

M 24" F 25"

light streaked breast;
male bluish above;
female brownish

Peregrine

M 40" F 45"

blue-gray above,
buffy breast

Hawk in flight drawing

NOTES FOR CHARLOTTESVILLE-AREA HAWKWATCHERS
Each fall, thousands of hawks and other birds of prey migrate southward along the Blue Ridge en route from their nesting sites in the northern U.S. and Canada to winter food sources on the Gulf Coast or in Central America, sometimes traveling 300 miles a day. They usually include eight species of hawks (eagles are in the hawk family), harriers, ospreys, and three species of falcons. The largest numbers have historically been seen in mid-September near Rockfish Gap, the narrowest part of the Blue Ridge where Interstate 64 intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway. They include broadwinged-hawks (by far the most numerous), sharp-shinned hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels, ospreys, and bald eagles. The greatest variety of migrants usually pass through in the first week of October, when broadwing numbers rapidly decline but Cooper's hawks, red-shouldered hawks, merlins and peregrines (two falcons), rough-legged hawks and golden eagles are also seen. Large non-migrating residents also in the air are turkey vultures, black vultures, ravens, crows, and red-tailed hawks; some non-resident vultures and many red-tails from farther north migrate southward over the area in the late fall. On several mid-September days in the 1980s and 90s more than 10,000 southbound raptors were counted by volunteer watchers stationed at the "Inn at Afton", which overlooks Rockfish Gap. Some birds flew directly; others soared in spiral "kettles" of dozens to hundreds of birds climbing or drifting in thermal updrafts. (From the tops of kettles such migrants glide southward.) Weather greatly affects an observer's chances of seeing these exciting birds perform. They tend to fly closer in the mornings and late afternoons of north-to-west winds, flying peak-to-peak or on the windward side of a ridge, where they glide on the "lift" made by wind pressing against the slope. Many experienced observers begin an expedition by checking conditions from the parking lot of the "Inn at Afton". The height of the southbound birds and where they pass helps the observer determine whether to join the hospitable volunteer migrant-counters on the patio below the dining room or to move to one of the recommended lookout points (as described elsewhere in this brochure). Hawkwatchers should be equipped with water, snacks, hat and extra jacket for cold wind, folding chair or ground cloth, binoculars and patience. Binoculars (6-to-12 power) are a must. They enable observers to see colors and details otherwise lost, and beyond 2,000 feet even the silhouette of a medium-sized hawk is not recognizable to the naked eye.

RECOMMENDED HAWK-WATCHING SITES IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Rockfish Gap / Blue Ridge Parkway Watch from the northwest edge of the "Inn at Afton" parking lot by the barrier, farther west along the driveway, or from the lawn to the northeast below the dining room. If winds are light or easterly, try east-facing lookouts or high fields as far south as Wintergreen. Calf Mountain Overlook About 12 minutes north of Rockfish Gap on Skyline Drive, past Beagle Gap, the Calf Mountain Overlook has wider views than at most other lookouts, and hawks often pass closer than at other sites if the wind is north through west. Here hawks often make low passes at owl decoys watchers sometimes post on nearby private property. Excellent parking. Calf Mountain and Bear Den Mountain At Beagle Gap, the Appalachian Trail (A-T) crosses Skyline Drive and passes through old cattle fences. From here, a 15-minute climbing walk north up the A-T and then west across an easily seen open stretch brings one to the open summit of Calf Mountain, with rocks to sit on, a spectacular view and usually good hawk-watching. A similar walk south up the A-T puts one atop Bear Den Mountain (an "antenna farm") with several choices for various winds. Loft Mountain A half-hour drive north from Calf Mountain, one can park in the restaurant lot at Loft Mountain and take a gentle 20-minute climbing walk east up the "Deadening Trail" to the rocky west watch point and the less attractive east watch point. Views from the west rock group can be spectacular.

This brochure was produced through volunteer efforts for the Ivy Creek Foundation.
Text by Paul Saunier, Jr.
Design by Dede Smith. September 1996

IVY CREEK FOUNDATION (ICF) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization created in 1979 to help 'operate, manage, promote, improve, and preserve the ecosystems of the Ivy Creek Natural Area for the purposes of environmental education, land conservation, and the improvement of water quality.' ICF offers free nature programs and hikes throughout the year, provides trail maps and educational brochures on local flora and fauna, and maintains an energetic corps of volunteer guides who, each year, lead nature tours for more than 2500 local schoolchildren. The Foundation is supported primarily by annual tax-deductible membership contributions. If you would like to help support the Ivy Creek Foundation’s activities, please join. For more information, call the ICF office at (434) 973-7772.

The Ivy Creek Foundation / P.O. Box 956 / Charlottesville, VA 22902 / 434-973-7772 / icf@ivycreekfoundation.org