Though they generally prefer the open grasslands of the High Plains, a Swainson's hawk or two often soar above our Littleton farm. Usually arriving in April, they escape the northern winter by migrating to Argentina, frequently traveling in large flocks.
Despite their large size, they feed on insects for most of the year (especially grasshoppers and dragonflies). An exception occurs during their nesting season when they feast on a variety of small mammals and reptiles.
By September, Swainson's hawks may begin their southward migration, never to experience our early autumn snowstorms. Though primarily a western species, individuals occasionally turn up in the Eastern U.S., especially in late summer or during migrations.
