I have been passing through Warwick NY regularly lately just to see if I could relocate and photograph the Leucistic Red-tail Hawk there. It has been just over a year since I posted my first shots of this bird. In the last two weeks, I had distant looks at the bird a couple times, but yesterday the bird was perched relatively close to the road so I was able to get the above shot. I am fascinated by this bird and I would have really liked to see it fly, but it was not to be. The bird stayed put and I was on my way.
Matt
Great shot…..I need a little education…what does leucistic mean?
Wilma
“Leucism, or leukism, is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers”. This text was grabbed from all about birds, here’s the link:http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/leucism.htm
Beautiful bird!
Absolutely!
I saw him today feb. 8 2015 after church at St. Stevens. it had a squirrel and had trouble getting up high so landed by the school and ate breakfast. Totally magnificent.
Theresa – that sounds amazing!Lucky you for sure, thanks for letting us know. Matt
After 12:15 Mass yesterday at St. Stephen’s, I saw a gentleman peering at something across the field and stopped to chat; sure enough, he was viewing the hawk which was quite a distance away, atop a cell tower. Later in the afternoon I returned with my camera and binoculars and was able to snap several pictures of the leucistic red-tail hawk in the parking lot of the Church. They’re not the best but I’m an amateur with the camera; at least I recorded the raptor for my collection. I’m a member of Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology and Project Feeder Watch and took ornithology in college; enjoy bird-watching and learning.
Miriam,
That’s quite a coincidence because I saw that bird after work today. I went to look for it over the weekend but did not have any luck. Good to hear from you. Matt
Just saw one on a tree branch near Pulpit Rock in Warwick, NY 🙂
Thanks for the heads up Abbey, and nice to exchange emails with you. Matt
How can one post a picture here?
Miriam- I sent you an email about this. Matt
omg- i saw this amazing bird—in warwick—across the street from St Stephens church on sunday morning-close to the road on the wire— i have been scouring the internet to see if anyone else had seen it and i came upon this blog– incredible he is still in the same location!! spectacular
Yes, Keri, what a bird! I am always on the lookout for this bird and see it from time to time, though it’s been a while since I last saw it. Beautiful bird! Matt
Hello everyone! I, too, see this bird regularly in the St. Stephens area. I have seen it in flight several times. It has a beautiful red tail. I’m am happy to see that I am not alone in my admiration.
Daryllynn, after going for a while not seeing the bird, I’ve seen it a couple times in recent days. Distant looks, but still good to see. Matt
I’d love to post the pics I took of this beautiful raptor; just saw hawk again last week. Observed a Snowy Owl in same area last March. Also, keep your eyes out for the mature Bald Eagle that apparently took up residence in the Warwick/West Milford area; have great pics of eagle as well!
Hi Miriam – great that you got to see this bird again! You can email me pics if you want at mattzeit@yahoo.com Matt