Buteo Platypterus

“On my way to work this morning I found a dead broadwinged hawk.

It is lying face-down in the trail through The Glen, a deep ravine on campus with 100 foot poplars and a few trails.

There are old stone buildings and a picnic pavilion and pathways 'round about, some of them paved.

I've seen photos from the '10s and '20s of girls in spring dresses with flower garlands dancing around the May Pole in The Glen.

Back to the bird.....
This ain't just a bird.
This creature is exquisite in death with beautiful color and form.
The broadwing looks like a smaller version of the redtail hawk.
It could have lost an aerial dog fight with the crows due to it's youth.
It doesn't seem to be quite full size.
The crows and broadwings regularly engage in air combat above the many tall trees here.
I suppose the raptors go to work on the nests of crows and other birds.
I've seen a handful of crows harry a single hawk many times.

http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/hawks/broadwng.html”

“Broadwings are indeed smaller than redtails by a good deal. In flight, the wings appear more rounded, too.

A young broadwing would not seem to stack up against a pair of crows, I would think.”

“I called a biology professor first thing this morning and told him where it was....about 150 yards from his building.

He was going to run right out and collect it!

Ha ha !!

Buteo Platypterus......

I'll bet you guys were thinkin' this might be some kinda gear.”

“And this is Professor J.J. Smith from Towson State University. What is your hobby Professor Smith?

Well, I collect dead hawks. I have a whole box of 'em in the basement.”

“Could be worse! John Wayne Gacy kept dead people in his basement.”

“I have heard that except for natives Americans, and maybe biologists(state, local, etc), it is illegal to possess raptors or their parts.”

“http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/hawks/redshldr.html

I just spoke to the professor and it is a former Red Shouldered Hawk, former since he is no longer alive.

He is a ex-hawk!!”

“He, and he is a he(heeheehee!!!), is now in a freezer awaiting the ornithologist for possible stuffing.

According to the professor there were no discernable wounds, though there was a bit of down scatterred at the scene.

There is a breeding pair nested nearby.

We're hoping it was maybe a rival male and not the nesting male.”

“MarkO, that bird should be tested for West Nile. 'Tis the season after all. We're told to collect, freeze and report all dead birds that don't show obvious trauma to test for mosquito borne diseases here. I think it's the same up there.”

“I see hawk/crow fights in my woods all the time. Never saw a looser yet, but those crows sure can be persistent brats!”

“The guy I saw looks like the standing bird in the fourth photo and the "in-flight" photo at the top.”

“treebait, there was a good bit of down and short feathers at the scene of death.

Some critter tore this guy up enough to kill him.

The professor just didn't see any obvious wounds.

The feathers are quite thick.”

“E's not dead. E's just sleepin. Lovely plumage, red shouldered. E's pinin fer his fjord!”