Let me start this off by saying I am not 100% sure that the hawk I saw is the broad-winged hawk, it just looks like it the most. It also looked a lot like the cooper hawk if you were wondering. Ever think what a modern-day dinosaur eats or where it inhabits, well you’ve come to the right place. I’ll speak about that and more, so if you’re interested stick around and enjoy a roller coaster of facts into your mind.

The broad-winged hawk, also known as Buteo platypterus, is a medium-sized hawk. Its body can grow up to 13 to 17 inches and weigh in at only 9.3 to 19.8 oz, a little over a pound. As in most raptors the females are slightly larger than the males. Its wings are relatively short, broad with a somewhat tapered pointed appearance, I’m guessing that’s how it got its name. The broad-winged hawk’s population numbers are relatively stable, sadly they are declining in some parts of breeding range because of forest fragmentation. The other day I saw one of these majestic birds in my front yard. It caught a baby turtle and was trying to eat it, but it couldn’t get through its shell and dropped it off the tree it was in. It went down for it but just left it there. After it left my dad said to leave it there, but I wanted to help it back in the water. Its diet varies on the time of year in summer or nesting season they eat chipmunks, shrews, frogs, lizard, and sometimes even cardinals. In the winter they like to feed on insects, frogs again, snakes, crabs. Also, apparently turtles, if it can get through its shell.

  Well, that’s it for today if you want to learn more about these winged raptors, search them up and let me know if I’m wrong about any of the facts I displayed. Hope to see you next week over and out.