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20 / OutdoorIllinois November 2009

Even without the ability to seefeather color or distinctive fieldmarks (eye rings, streaks, rumppatches, etc.) you can identifythe raptors you see overhead—

if not to species to one of seven generalcategories based on the bird’s size andwing and tail shapes.

_____ 1. Typically seen flying lowover marshes and grasslands, thenorthern harrier has long, narrowwings and a long tail, and they holdtheir wings in a dihedral shape similarto a turkey vulture. Compared withthe buteos, harriers have thinnerwings and a longer tail. Their wingsare longer than an accipiter’s.

_____ 2. Residents of the forest,accipiters are small- to medium-sizedraptors with short, rounded wingsand a long tail, all of which allows themto make quick turns among in theirwooded environment.

_____ 3. North America’s largestraptors, eagles have long, broad wingsand a fan-shaped tail. Eagles will soaron outstretched wings with fewwing beats.

_____ 4. With a distinct, M-shapedflight shape made because of a bend attheir “wrist” joint, the fish-eatingosprey closes its wings and extends itsclaws when it swoops down on its prey.

_____ 5. Long, narrow, pointed wings,a large head and a long tail are charac-teristics of falcons. These small- tomedium-sized birds have rapid wingbeats and dive at high speeds towardtheir prey.

_____ 6. A soaring hawk, using air cur-rents to minimize the need for flappingtheir wings, the medium to large-sizedbuteos have broad, rounded wings, arobust body and a fan-shaped tail.

_____ 7. The Mississippi kite is swiftand graceful in flight, with a falcon-likeshape but narrower wings. They areoften seen circling overhead, makingshort dives to catch a flying insect.

Hawks OverheadA.

D.

E.

F.

G.

C.

B.

Answers:1C,2G,3A,4F,5B,6E,7D.