Raptors

Hundreds of species of birds make Standley Lake a temporary home throughout the seasons. On any given day, there’s a high chance of seeing or hearing at least one bird of prey. Raptors-or birds of prey- are carnivorous birds whose diet consists of vertebrates large in comparison to the bird. Though there are a variety of raptors throughout the park, they all share similar traits that set them apart from the other resident birds. All raptors have curved, sharp beaks, designed for tearing apart their prey effectively, albeit messily. Their feet are powerful, equipped with sharp talons used for grasping or piercing to kill. Their eyesight contributes to their excellent hunting abilities, enabling them to focus on prey at great distances. Though many birds who consume insects and fish can be considered animal-eating, they are not considered a bird of prey since they do not share the trifecta of adaptations mentioned above.

On the sign before you, you’ll see 5 of the more common raptors seen in this area. The osprey, also known as the fish hawk, can be found soaring high above the water in search of its next meal. Though we have no known osprey nesting sites within the park, they can still be spotted regularly as their main food source is fish, of which Standley Lake has plenty. Osprey are one of the world’s most widely distributed birds, spanning 4 continents. An osprey with freshly caught prey in its clutches is often chased by a bald eagle, in hopes of spooking the fish hawk into dropping it.

On any given day in the summer, a Swainson’s Hawk makes its presence known by its piercing scream high in the air. A large number of Swainson’s return to the Front Range every year, and can be found circling for small rodents for the duration of the summer. Though they are frequently confused with Red Tail Hawks, they have several distinguishing characteristics. The Swainson’s is noticeably smaller than the Red Tail Hawk, and lacks the rusty tail that adult Red Tails sport. Swainson’s have a brown bib and creamy white belly, easily spotted when perched. When in flight, the underwings are black, with white “armpits”. Once the season begins to change, these hawks began one of the longest migratory journey of any bird of prey, with their final destination being southern Argentina.

Cooper’s Hawks are the culprit for the piles of feathers found under trees, near the trail and even in your backyard. A bird eating hawk, the Cooper’s can navigate swiftly through dense branches to get to the songbird or chickadee just leaving a feeder. The Cooper’s Hawk pictured is a juvenile, though when mature looks nearly identical to a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, but larger. A Cooper’s Hawk can be crow sized, and a Sharp-Shinned is typically robin sized.

The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon! A small kestrel can weigh just a few ounces, equivalent to about 40 pennies, though in this area they tend to be a bit larger due to the abundance of food. Don’t underestimate its size, the American Kestrel is quite powerful, able to carry a small rodent off the ground easily. Their diet consists of insects, small birds and rodents like voles, mice and shrews. They have the unique ability to hover in midair and drop rapidly to pounce on prey. The kestrel shown is a male, much more colorful and vibrant than the female counterpart.

Like the Cooper’s Hawk, the Sharp Shinned Hawk focuses mainly on hunting smaller birds. This hawk is can be confused with a falcon, like the kestrel, as its tail is long in proportion to its body. Unlike other hawks, they do not soar high in the air in search of their prey, they camouflage on low branches, swooping in on a songbird with excellent precision.

Red Tail Hawks are Standley Lake’s most common year round resident, found perched on bare cottonwood branches or light posts nearby. They are the second largest hawk found in North America after the Ferruginous Hawk. Their piercing scream is often used in movies depicting a Bald Eagle, since it is powerful and loud. They can be heard from long distances, and seen circling high in the sky above you. Often confused with the Swainson’s Hawk, the Red Tail lacks the brown bib, sporting a creamy white chest and spotted belly band instead. The distinctive red tail is a characteristic of adults only, so don’t be deceived when you see a juvenile with a light or barred tail soaring above you!