The Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings have been very active this season, thrilling parkgoers with their low swooping and other raptor antics.
This fledgling has a lot of color in its face and heavy brown markings on its upper chest. They young hawks' eyes are a pale yellowish green, while the adults have dark brown eyes.
Two of the three siblings perching together:
Posing with some hydrangeas:
One way to tell the adults from the fledglings is by looking at their legs. The young hawks have prominent dark brown spots on their legs (polka dot pants) while the adults do not.
This fledgling scavenged an old pigeon from under a bush.
The young ones have been exploring a bit beyond the park, venturing up to buildings along Avenue B. This one perched on a chimney before returning to the park.
I love it when the hawks fly straight at me and buzz my head. They've
been pulling this move on a lot of people recently, and it's nothing to
worry about - they are not trying to hurt anyone, just practicing their
flying skills.
The fences in Tompkins are unique in that they are the perfect height for the hawks to perch and hunt prey on the ground. Dad Christo has used the fences for this purpose for years, and his kids are quickly learning his hunting methods.
The young hawks have been observed catching at least one pigeon, mouse, and small rat. They are growing more independent by the day but still rely on the safety of the park where they can hone their skills.
Meanwhile, Mom Amelia keeps a close eye on the fledglings. Both she and Dad Christo continue to provide food as needed.
Below, Amelia contemplates a fly.
This is her taking off. She's a beautiful hawk.
Looking pretty early the other morning:
And here is Christo sunning himself on a roof on Avenue B.
We've seen him do this before. The photo below is from July 21, 2022, when he spread his wings and tail and soaked in the sun for 10-15 minutes.
There's a lot more hawk action to come...
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