Why do hawks scream? That question ran through my head yesterday during a visit to a local garden, when the call of a hawk rang out almost continuously for long periods of time.
Twice I managed to see the hawk, which I think may be a Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and got some shots of it. Although I was able to get a shot of the hawk perched on the limb of the tree (the second photo here), I prefer the first image.
I had observed the hawk flying to the branches of a tree that was relatively near to where I was. The photographic challenge for me was that the hawk was mostly in the shade and the sharp upward angle made it tough to get a good shot. After a few minutes on the branch, the hawk took off and I got a couple of photographs before the hawk disappeared into the trees.
I really like the outstretched wings and tail of the hawk as it took to the air. Note too that the hawk’s mouth is open—I think he was still screaming.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Yes, an immature Red-Tailed hawk.
Thanks for the assist in the identification.
A very pretty bird. IDs of juvenile hawks are tricky. This bird has a longish tail, which is more typical of a Red-shouldered Hawk. Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks usually have a dark belly band, which this bird doesn’t have, but that isn’t always present. However, the call of the Red-shouldered Hawk is higher and faster than a Red-tailed Hawk, so you should be able to ID the bird by its call. I know you have lots of Red-shouldered Hawks in your area (maybe more than Red-tailed, actually).
The call of the hawk was so constant that I should have paid more attention to it, but it was mostly in the background and I was not as focused on it. The two shots were also taken at two locations in the garden, so I am not even sure that they are the same bird. When I am at the marsh park, where I shoot a lot of the time, I am pretty sure that the hawks that I see are Red-shouldered hawks. It’s a tough call for me, but I am happy that I got some ok shots.
You know I am a fan of hawks, so I like this. I’ve often wondered why they scream since that would take away some element of surprise for the prey.
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