Winter’s coming and it’s getting colder for us and for all the wildlife around, including birds like this one. Here’s a challenge for all birders: what do we think this is? At first I thought ‘owl’ but on looking at it more closely I don’t think it is. I asked a local birder by email, with no response, but there were a few suggestions as to possibilities. This was taken through my living room window a few winters ago. The answer as to the identity is given below the next section if you want to see if you guessed correctly.
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It is a Red Tailed Hawk, fluffed up from the cold. It was difficult to be sure, as mostly these birds migrate south for the winter. In Nova Scotia, however, they stay year round. If you guessed that, then well done!!
I wouldn’t have gone beyond saying “hawk” When they’re all fluffed up like it is very hard to tell. And a red-shouldered vs red-tailed hawk is hard for me to tell apart unless I see a splayed tail
It had to be best guess in this instance.
The expression on the bird, whichever it may be, is priceless…a sort of “you talkin to me?” (done with a Brooklyn accent). Good capture, Ellie.
Ha ha! Love it! (The accent,in particular.) Thanks, Janet.