More about Common Black Hawk

Here is another photo of the Common Black Hawk (only editing was to crop photo to enlarge it). As is visible in this photo, the hawk was watching the river area below the snag. It spent a lot of time just perched, watching the river below. This is consistent with what I have read about this species. It is described as sedentary, passively hunting for prey from perches, where they sit forelong periods of time.

It was really cool when, after I left to get my jacket, I found it standing on a gravel bar in the river near the snag on which it had been perched. The hawk was looking around, presumably looking for prey (they eat crawdads, fish, and frogs--all available in the river at this area) I had read, and been told by other birders, that Common Black Hawks will hunt for prey from gravel and sand bars, and even will walk in the water. More tomorrow.

SeEtta