Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni, dining on a dragonfly (I am uncertain of the species name for the dragonfly, but according to my reader, ThomLS, it is likely an Anax species). This large Buteo is also known as the grasshopper hawk or locust hawk in honour of its fondness for eating these insects. Photographed at Smith Point Hawk Watch, Chambers County, Texas.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 4 September 2010 [larger view]. I encourage you to explore this generous photographer's frequently updated website.
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/1000s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
This inaugural mystery bird image was suggested by our very generous photographer, Joseph Kennedy. Even though this is a North American Buteo, it seemed appropriate to start with because this species was named by Charles Bonaparte in honor of William Swainson, a British naturalist, artist and globetrotter.
Swainson's hawks nest in semi-arid grasslands throughout the central and western interior of North America. This species is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Argentina (which may be where William Swainson encountered them during his own peregrinations). Interestingly, there is one accepted record of a vagrant Swainson's hawk popping up in Norway!
