The Red-Tailed Hawk is a bird of prey and is commonly known in East Texas as a "chickenhawk," although it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. They typically weigh between 1.5 - 3.5 pounds, measure 18-26 inches in length, and have a wingspan from 43-57 inches wide.
The Red-Tailed Hawk is numerous in the East Texas Pineywoods. It is a protected species in the United States. It's plumage can be variable, depending on the species and the region. The basic appearance is consistent. The underbelly is lighter than the back and a dark brown band across the belly, formed by horizontal streaks in feather patterning, is present in most color variations. The red tail, which gives the species it's name, is uniformly brick-red above and pink below. The bill is short and dark, in the hooked shape characteristic of raptors. They have short, broad tails, and thick, chunky wings.
It's preferred habitat is mixed forest and field with high bluffs or trees that may be used as perch sites. In flight, this hawk soars with wings in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy. Active flight is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground. When soaring or flapping it's wings, it typically travels from 20-40 mph, but when diving may exceed 120 mph.
The Red-Tailed Hawk is carnivorous, and an opportunistic feeder. It's diet is mainly small mammals, but it also includes birds and reptiles. Rodents compromise up to 85% of the hawks diet. It typically hunts from an elevated perch site, swooping down from a perch to seize prey, catching birds while flying, or pursuing prey on the ground from a low flight.
EASTERN WILD TURKEY
The Eastern Wild Turkey is the same species as the domestic turkey. Adults have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green legs and a black body. Males, have a large, featherless, reddish head, red throat, and red wattles on the throat and neck. The head has fleshy growths called caruncles. Males have a long, dark, fan shaped tail and glossy bronze wings. Females have feathers that are duller overall, in shades of brown and gray. Males typically have a "beard," a tuft of coarse hair growing from the center of the breast. Beards average 9 inches in length. The adult male normally weighs 11-24 pounds and is 30-37 inches long.
Despite their weight, wild turkeys are agile fliers. Their ideal habitat is open woodland where they may fly beneath the canopy top and find perches. They fly close to the ground for no more than a quarter mile.
Wild Turkeys are omnivorous. They prefer eating hard mast such as acorns, nuts, and various trees, seeds, berries, roots and insects. They occasionally consume amphibians and small reptiles. Turkey populations can reach large numbers in small areas because of their ability to forage for different types of food. Early morning and late afternoon are the desired times for eating.
TURKEY VULTURE
The Turkey Vulture, also known as the Turkey Buzzard or just Buzzard inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas including forests, shrubland, and pastures in East Texas.
The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its food using it's keen eyes and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the beginnings of the process of decomposition in dead animals. In flight, it uses thermals to move through the air, flapping its winds infrequently. It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 63-71 inches, and a weight of up to 5 pounds. The body feathers are mostly brownish-black. The adults head is small in comparison to its body and is red in color with few to no feathers. It also has a relatively short, hooked, ivory colored beak. The irises are grey-brown; legs and feet are pink skinned, although typically stained white.
The Turkey Vulture is gregarious and roosts in large community groups, breaking away to forage independently during the day. Several hundred may roost communally in groups. It roosts on dead, leafless trees, and will also roost on manmade structures such as water or microwave towers.
This vulture is often seen standing in a spread-winged stance, which is thought to dry the winds, warm the body, and bake off bacteria. It has few natural predators.
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