RAPTORS OF

URBAN
WILD SPACES
Brian Rusnica
(all photos by B. Rusnica except where noted)

Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Birding Ethics (American Birding Association)

1. Respect and promote birds and their environment.

● Always: keep back from nests, roosts, & feeding sites

● Always: stay on trails
● Always: leave no trace
● Limit: human impact
● Limit: advertising locations of nesting/wintering birds
● Limit: use of audio recordings
● Never: baiting
● Never: intentional flushing
● Never: use of flash photography

Source: https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ - Updated in 2019!

Birding Ethics (American Birding Association)

2. Respect and promote the birding community and its individual members.

3. Respect and promote the law and the rights of others.

● Always: be a birder ambassador

● Always: seek ethical guides and organizations
● Always: call out unethical behavior
● Never: bird on private property
● Always: be learning!

Source: https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
Raptors of Urban Wild Spaces - Program Goals

For Today For Tomorrow

● Adaptability in urban raptors
● Advantages and challenges
● Where to see urban raptors in Boston Metro
● What species do best in urban settings?
● Species Accounts
○ 7 Urban Diurnal Raptors
○ 3 Urban Owls
○ 2 Bonus birds
● Identify Areas to Explore next
○ Media on Raptor Conservation & ID
○ Organizations
● Bonus Slides
○ Accipiter ID: Sharpie vs. Coop
 About Me
Brian Rusnica (Cambridge, MA)
● Counter & co-coordinator, Mount Watatic
Fall Hawkwatch site (2015 - present)
● Counter, Plum Island Spring Hawkwatch site
● President and Board of Directors, Eastern
Mass Hawk Watch
● Board of Directors, NorthEast Hawk Watch
● Admin, “Raptor ID” Facebook group
Links
● http://brianrusnica.com
● http://hawkseason.com
● http://flickr.com/photos/quadceratops
● http://14hawks8owls.com
● http://twitter.com/CambridgeCoops
● Email me: 14hawks8owls@gmail.com
URBAN RAPTORS
Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
 Background on
Urban Raptors
● Urban environments may be
the only habitat type that is
increasing in size
● Relationship of raptors and
humans has an up-and-down
history
● Study of Urban Raptors is
relatively recent with modern
attitudes on conservation

Peregrine Falcon
Museum of Science
 Adaptability in
Urban Raptors
● Some raptor species can take
advantage of urban
environments
● Advantage to adaptable and
flexible species
● Some raptor species are too
specialized to adapt

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
 Adaptability in
Urban Raptors
● Differences in urban raptors
can exist at many levels
● Globally: Northern Goshawks in
Berlin/Stockholm vs. Boston
● Regionally: Sharp-shinned
Hawks in Montréal vs. Boston
● Among Species: Peregrine
Falcon migrants vs. Boston
locals

Peregrine Falcon
Cambridge
Why are Urban Raptors
interesting?
● Phenomenon is still a surprise
● Juxtaposition of the natural
world with the synthetic
● Predator-prey dramas playing
out in our neighborhoods
● Coexistence: we can share
urban spaces with raptors and
benefit each other

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
ADVANTAGES
Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge
 Advantages:
Prey Availability
● Prey availability may be better
in cities for some raptors
● Cities have: Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge

○ More birds
○ More rodents
● Urban environments favor
generalists, bird-eaters

Peregrine Falcon
Boston
Red-tailed Hawk prey items (Cambridge)
 Advantages:
Nesting Availability
● Nesting availability may be
better in cities for some raptors
● Cities have: Cooper’s Hawks
Cambridge

○ Nesting in fragmented forest

○ Nesting on structures
○ Nest boxes for cavity nesters
● Urban environments favor
woodland, mixed-use breeders

Red-tailed Hawks
Cambridge
Red-tailed Hawk nests (Boston/Cambridge)
 Advantages:
Smaller Home Ranges
● Smaller territory ranges are
required for breeding birds
● Example: Cooper’s Hawks have a Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge

20x smaller home range, when

comparing urban breeders in
Tucson, AZ vs. typical rural
ranges

Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
 Advantages:
Other Benefits
● Urban environments provide
dependable and permanent
water sources Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge

● Birdbaths, fountains,
drainage/irrigation systems
● Outdoor lighting may aid in
catching prey in the dark

Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge
CHALLENGES
Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
 Challenges:
Structure Collisions
● Collisions with human structures
cause injury or death
Red-tailed Hawk
● Window glass, buildings, exterior Cambridge

lighting, wires

Peregrine Falcon
Cambridge
 Challenges:
Vehicles
● Vehicle traffic leads to impact
injuries and death
● Raptors often hunt open areas Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge

near roads
● Raptors may scavenge other
road-killed animals

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
 Challenges:
Poisons
● Rodenticide poisoning extremely
prevalent in urban areas
● Pesticides have unintended Red-tailed Hawk
Tufts Wildlife Clinic

effects

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
 Challenges:
Persecution
● Closer contact with humans leads
to conflict
● Persecution due to
ignorance/inconvenience
● Habitat loss through
development

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
 Challenges:
Electrocution
● Raptors use power grid
infrastructure for nesting and
hunting perches Peregrine Falcon
Newburyport

Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
URBAN WILD SPACES
Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
 Urban Wild Spaces

● Places where we can observe

urban raptors hunting and
breeding (near Boston Metro)
● Definition is not standardized
● Research on urban raptors spans
from city centers to suburbs
● Some studies only classify as
urban/exurban

Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
 Urban Wild Spaces:
Public/Green/Open Spaces
● Parks, Cemeteries, Golf Courses,
Natural Reserves
● Examples in Boston Metro: Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
○ Mount Auburn Cemetery
○ Fresh Pond
○ Arnold Arboretum
○ Boston Common & Boston
Public Garden
○ Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
○ Millennium Park
Red-tailed Hawk
Boston Common
 Urban Wild Spaces:
Incidental
● Ornamental Plantings, Landfills,
Urban ‘Wilds’
● Examples in Boston Metro: Short-eared Owl
Saugus

○ Bear Creek Sanctuary /

Wheelabrator Landfill
○ Alewife Brook Reservation
○ Rose Kennedy Greenway
○ McLaughlin Woods

Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge
 Urban Wild Spaces:
Atypical
● Inaccessible Regions (Airport,
Rail Yard)
● Forgotten Areas (Railroad Osprey
Allston
Corridor, Industrial Park, Vacant
Lots)
● Examples in Boston Metro:
○ Logan Airport
○ Commuter Rail/Amtrak
Corridors
○ Your Neighborhood?
Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge
IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUE
Red-tailed Hawk
Cambridge
Identification Technique

● Use a Combination of field marks, including:

● Shape
● Flight Style
● Plumage
● Best advice: “Learn the basics well”
○ Learn the minutiae later
○ Most small details cannot be observed in the field, in real time, but basic
details always can
Disclaimers
● Students, not experts
○ There is always something new to learn about raptors, think like a student
○ No one can identify every bird, but it’s fun to try!
● Exceptions to every rule
○ Think “Typically/Usually/Often” Not “Always/Never”
● Birds have wings
○ Expected Range is helpful information, but note that vagrant sightings
happen every day
SPECIES ACCOUNTS
American Kestrel
Somerville
Mount Auburn
Cemetery

Raptors
Bar Chart

via eBird
(2001-current)
 Red-tailed Hawk
Overview
✓ A large buteo with a bellyband of
streaked feathers and dark patagial
marks.

● Widespread in North America

 Red-tailed Hawk
Adult
✓ A large buteo with a bellyband of
streaked feathers and dark patagial
marks.

Adult:
● Brick-orange top of tail
● Dark brown irises
● Complex brown tones
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Red-tailed Hawk
Juvenile
✓ A large buteo with a bellyband of
streaked feathers and dark patagial
marks.

Juvenile:
● Light brown tail with many thin,
dark brown bands
● Pale yellow irises
● Monochromatic brown tones
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Red-tailed Hawk
Status in Boston Metro
● Regular breeder in city
centers, suburbs.
● Year-round resident
 Red-tailed Hawk
Foraging Habits
● Small/Med Mammals
● Birds
● Generalist
 Red-tailed Hawk
Key Challenges
● Rodenticide poisoning
 Cooper’s Hawk
Overview
✓ A medium accipiter with a large
squarish head, longer, thinner wings,
tubular torso and a long, banded tail that
can appear rounded-off at distance.

● Widespread in US and Mexico

 Cooper’s Hawk
Adult
✓ A medium accipiter with a large
squarish head, longer, thinner wings,
tubular torso and a long, banded tail that
can appear rounded-off at distance.

Adult:
● Blue to blue-gray top, rufous
barring on pale underside
● Dark cap with pale nape: “capped”
● Irises: Orange to deep red
● Males more vibrantly colored than
females
 Cooper’s Hawk
Juvenile
✓ A medium accipiter with a large
squarish head, longer, thinner wings,
tubular torso and a long, banded tail that
can appear rounded-off at distance.

Juvenile:
● Brown top, dark brown, neat, thin
teardrop-shape streaking on pale
underside
● Irises: Pale yellow to yellow-orange
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Cooper’s Hawk
Status in Boston Metro
● Expanding breeder in
public green &
incidental spaces
● Year-round resident
 Cooper’s Hawk
Foraging Habits
● Small-Medium Birds
● Small Mammals
 Cooper’s Hawk
Key Challenges
● Window & Vehicle
Collisions
● Rodenticide poisoning
 Peregrine Falcon
Overview
✓ A large falcon with long, narrow and
sharply pointed wings, a muscular torso,
long tail and a dark head with malar
stripe for a “helmeted” look.

● Widespread globally

Status: Year-round Resident

 Peregrine Falcon
Adult
✓ A large falcon with long, narrow and
sharply pointed wings, a muscular torso,
long tail and a dark head with malar
stripe for a “helmeted” look.

Adult:
● Dark blue-gray topside, pale
underside with thin, dark barring
● Subtle plumage differences between
sexes
● Irises: Solid dark brown
 Peregrine Falcon
Juvenile
✓ A large falcon with long, narrow and
sharply pointed wings, a muscular torso,
long tail and a dark head with malar
stripe for a “helmeted” look.

Juvenile:
● Brown-gray topside, buffy underside
with dark streaking
● Irises: Solid dark brown
 Peregrine Falcon
Status in Boston Metro
● Regular/increasing
breeder in city centers
on tall structures
● Year-round resident
 Peregrine Falcon
Foraging Habits
● Medium-Large Birds
 Peregrine Falcon
Key Challenges
● Collisions
● Persecution
● Pesticide poisoning
(full recovery)
Red-shouldered Hawk
Overview
✓ A medium buteo with a pale crescent
marks on outer wing and many thin pale
bands on a dark tail.

● Widespread Eastern US and West

Coast
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult
✓ A medium buteo with a pale crescent
marks on outer wing and many thin pale
bands on a dark tail.

Adult
● Rufous barred breast
● Rufous shoulder patch
● Black & white banded flight feathers
● Black tail with thin white bands
● Dark brown irises
● Both sexes plumage identical
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile
✓ A medium buteo with a pale crescent
marks on outer wing and many thin pale
bands on a dark tail.

Juvenile
● Brown streaks on pale breast,
evenly distributed
● Brown topside with mottling
● Dark tail with thin white bands
● Yellow-to-brown irises
● Both sexes plumage identical
Red-shouldered Hawk
Status in Boston Metro
● Increasing breeder in
suburbs
● Partial migrant/some
year-round residents
Red-shouldered Hawk
Foraging Habits
● Reptiles and
Amphibians
● Small Mammals
● Generalist
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Overview
✓ A small accipiter with a small, round
head, short, round wings, top-heavy
torso and a long banded tail that can
appear squared-off at distance.

● Widespread in North and South

America
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Adult
✓ A small accipiter with a small, round
head, short, round wings, top-heavy
torso and a long banded tail that can
appear squared-off at distance.

Adult:
● Blue to blue-gray top, rufous
barring on pale underside
● Dark cap and nape: “hooded”
● Irises: Orange to deep red
● Males more vibrantly colored than
females
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Juvenile
✓ A small accipiter with a small, round
head, short, round wings, top-heavy
torso and a long banded tail that can
appear squared-off at distance.

Juvenile:
● Brown top, rufous, blurry streaking
on pale underside
● Irises: Pale yellow to yellow-orange
● Both sexes plumage identical
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Status in Boston Metro
● Migrant visitor
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Foraging Habits
● Small Birds
 American Kestrel
Overview
✓ A small falcon with long, slim wings, a
slim torso, long tail and boldly marked
face with two dark malar stripes. Both
sexes have orange top sides, while males
have blue upperwings.

● Widespread in North and South

America
 American Kestrel
Female
✓ A small falcon with long, slim wings, a
slim torso, long tail and boldly marked face
with two dark malar stripes. Both sexes
have orange top sides, while males have
blue upperwings.

Male:
● Orange topside with black barring
● Orange tail w/many thin black bands
● Buffy underside w/rufous streaking
● Irises: Solid dark brown
 American Kestrel
Male
✓ A small falcon with long, slim wings, a
slim torso, long tail and boldly marked
face with two dark malar stripes. Both
sexes have orange top sides, while males
have blue upperwings.

Male:
● Blue upperwings w/black primaries
● Orange tail with a black tip
● Buffy underside with black spotting
● Irises: Solid dark brown
● White “pearls” trailing edge of wing
 American Kestrel
Status in Boston Metro
● Rare breeder in
atypical areas
● Partial migrant/some
year-round residents
American Kestrel
Foraging Habits
● Small Mammals
● Small Birds
● Insects
 Merlin
Overview
✓ A small falcon with shorter, broad and
sharply pointed wings, a stocky torso,
and a boldly banded tail. Both sexes dark
above and heavily streaked below; adult
males have blue backs.

● Breeds in Canada, Northern US,

Northern Eurasia. Winter range is
Western and East Coast US, Mexico,
Central America, Central Eurasia
 Merlin
Adult Male
✓ A small falcon with shorter, broad and
sharply pointed wings, a stocky torso,
and a boldly banded tail. Both sexes dark
above and heavily streaked below; adult
males have blue backs.

Adult Male
● Dark blue topside
● Lightly streaked below
● Irises: Solid dark brown
 Merlin
Juvenile & Ad Female
✓ A small falcon with shorter, broad and
sharply pointed wings, a stocky torso,
and a boldly banded tail. Both sexes dark
above and heavily streaked below; adult
males have blue backs.

Juvenile and Adult Female

● Dark gray-brown topside
● Heavily streaked below
● Irises: Solid dark brown
 Merlin
Status in Boston Metro
● Migrant visitor
(Winter)
 Merlin
Foraging Habits
● Small Birds
● Insects
 Great Horned Owl
Overview
✓ A very large owl with a stout torso,
long ear tufts, yellow irises,
brownish-gray mottled plumage with
barring on front, white bib and
prominent facial disc.

● Widespread throughout US, Canada

and Mexico
● Subtle differences between sexes
Great Horned Owl
Status in Boston Metro
● Regular breeder in
green spaces, suburbs
● Year-round resident
Great Horned Owl
Foraging Habits
● Small/Med Mammals
● Birds
● Generalist
Great Horned Owl
Key Challenges
● Rodenticide poisoning
Eastern Screech Owl
Overview
✓ A small owl with ear tufts, yellow
irises, and mottled gray, red or brown
plumage depending on morph.

● Widespread throughout US, east of

Rocky Mountains
● Sexes identical / not related to
plumage morphs
Eastern Screech Owl
Status in Boston Metro
● Rare breeder in green
spaces, suburbs
● Year-round resident
Eastern Screech Owl
Foraging Habits
● Small Mammals
● Small Birds
● Insects
● Generalist
Eastern Screech Owl
Key Challenges
● Nesting availability
● Habitat loss
 Barred Owl
Overview
✓ A large owl with a round head with no
ear tufts, dark irises, brownish-gray
mottled barred plumage.
● Widespread in Eastern US, S. Canada
and expanded into Northwest US
● Sexes identical in plumage
 Barred Owl
Status in Boston Metro
● Regular breeder in
green spaces, suburbs
● Year-round resident
 Barred Owl
Foraging habits
● Small/Med Mammals
● Birds
● Generalist
 Barred Owl
Key Challenges
● Vehicle collisions
● Habitat loss
BONUS SPECIES
Osprey
East Boston
 Bald Eagle
Overview
✓ A very large eagle with long, broad,
flat wings and a large head and bill.
Plumage varies widely by age and
individual.

● Widespread US and Canada

 Bald Eagle
Adult (5+ years)
✓ A very large eagle with long, broad,
flat wings and a large head and bill.
Plumage varies widely by age and
individual.

Adult:
● “Unmistakable” bright white head
and tail
● Dark torso and wings
● Irises: Pale yellow
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Bald Eagle
Immature (2-4 years)
✓ A very large eagle with long, broad,
flat wings and a large head and bill.
Plumage varies widely by age and
individual.

Adult:
● Widely varied black-brown and
white mottling in head, body,
underwings and tail
● Irises: Dark brown to pale yellow
with age
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Bald Eagle
Juvenile (1st year)
✓ A very large eagle with long, broad,
flat wings and a large head and bill.
Plumage varies widely by age and
individual.

Adult:
● Widely varied black-brown and
white mottling in underwings and
tail, tawny brown belly
● Irises: dark brown
● “Two-toned” appearance on top
● Both sexes plumage identical
 Osprey
Overview
✓ A large raptor with very long and very
thin wings, and a small head. Bright white
undersides with dark wrist markings and
flight feathers.
 Osprey
Adult
✓ A large raptor with very long and very
thin wings, and a small head. Bright white
undersides with dark wrist markings and
flight feathers.

Adult:
● Dark topside with white head
featuring bold black eyestripe
● Irises: Yellow
● Subtle differences between sexes
● Subtle differences between Ad/Juv
AREAS TO EXPLORE
Peregrine Falcon
Cambridge
RECOMMENDED
MEDIA

Red-tailed Hawk
Mount Auburn Cemetery
 Books to Own
Beginner
The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors
Richard Crossley
Jerry Liguori
Brian Sullivan
2013 $25 288pp
Books to Own
Intermediate
Hawks From Every Angle
Jerry Liguori
2005 $20 129pp
Books to Own
Intermediate
Hawks At A Distance
Jerry Liguori
2011 $20 216pp
Books to Own
Advanced
Urban Raptors
Clint Boal (ed)
Cheryl Dykstra (ed)
2018 $40 320pp
 Apps to Own
ALL LEVELS
Raptor ID
By Hawkwatch Int’l and
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
34 species of diurnal raptors
1,000+ annotated photos
Identification video for each species
FREE
ORGANIZATIONS
TO KNOW

Cooper’s Hawk
Cambridge
Friends of Mount Auburn

Web: https://mountauburn.org/give/membership/

● Non-profit educational trust associated with Mount Auburn Cemetery

(Cambridge/Watertown, MA)
● Topics of focus include history and preservation, wildlife, horticulture, fine arts
and cultural discussions
● Membership grants access to programming that furthers education and
appreciation of Mount Auburn’s cultural, historic and natural resources
● Relies on community donations and volunteer contributions
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch

Web: http://massbird.org/emhw

● Regional group of Massachusetts hawkwatchers

● Monitor sites and count raptors during Spring and Fall Migration
● Locations of hawkwatch sites in your area
● Annual meeting w/keynote speakers
● $15 Annual Dues
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Web: https://www.birds.cornell.edu

● NY-based premiere ornithology institution in the world

● Research, education, and citizen science focused on birds
● eBird - citizen science bird sighting database w/app
● All About Birds - basic online field guide
● Macaulay Library - largest online collection of bird images and sounds
● Birds of The World - advanced digital life history reference
● Merlin - ‘smart’ Bird ID App
● NestWatch, FeederWatch, Great Backyard Bird Count, Global Big Day and
more...
● $50+ Annual Membership w/extra incentives
 Bonus Slides
Accipiter ID: Sharpie vs. Coop
Accipiter In-flight Comparison
 Accipiter In-flight Comparison
Cooper’s Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk
(juvenile) (juvenile)

Large
Small

Tubular Top-heavy

Square

Round

Larger head projection, tubular torso, rounded tail tip Smaller head projection, top-heavy torso, squared tail tip
(outer feathers shorter) (same feather length)
Accipiter In-flight Comparison
 Accipiter In-flight Comparison
Small
< Cooper’s Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk >

Round Soaring wing shape:

● Flat leading edge ● Bent forward at

● Longer, narrower wrist Square
Flat wings ● Bulging trailing edge
● Shorter, rounder
wings

Tail tip shape:

● Rounded at tip ● Squared off at tip

Bent
Bulge
Head projection:

Large ● Larger head ● Smaller head

Accipiter Perched Comparison (Juveniles)
 Accipiter Perched Comparison (Juveniles)
Cooper’s Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk
Large (juvenile) (juvenile)
Small

Tubular Top-heavy

Square
Round

Larger head, blocky head, tubular torso, thin dark streaks, Smaller head, rounded head, top-heavy torso, blurry rufous
rounded tail tip (different-length feathers) streaks, squared tail tip (same-length feathers)
Accipiter Perched Comparison (Adults)

Image: © Jerry Liguori / Macaulay Library

 Accipiter Perched Comparison (Adults)
Cooper’s Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk
Dark cap + Dark cap +
(adult) (adult)
Pale nape Dark nape
“capped” “hooded”

Top-heavy

Tubular

Round Square
Image: © Jerry Liguori / Macaulay Library

Larger blocky head, tubular torso, dark cap/pale nape Smaller rounded head, top-heavy torso, dark cap/dark
(“capped”), rounded tail tip (different-length feathers) nape (hooded), squared tail tip (same-length feathers)