Phenology Report: Upright owls and hunched hawks perch along roadsides

By Charlie Mitchell

Published February 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM CST

A Rough-legged Hawk perches at the top of a dead birch tree near Finland, MN on Oct. 17, 2023.

On Feb. 12, 2025, staff phenologist John Latimer reports on the first breaking buds of spring, perching posture, and the Juneberry's hairy buds.

This week, John Latimer showed off his skill for drawing my attention to small, overlooked details in nature. In this week's Phenology Report, John points out that owls perch upright while hawks tend to hunch over their perch. It’s a simple observation, but a powerful one for anyone trying to ID a bird while driving 60 mph down a highway.

As with any good rule, there are exceptions. In this case, the Northern Hawk Owl breaks the trend; this owl has hawk-like tendencies, including hunting during the day and perching at a hawk-like angle. In addition, individual birds may change their posture based on their behavior or environment. For instance, an owl might hunch forward when zeroed in on the sound of a vole skittering beneath the snow, or a hawk might sit with upright poise on a flexible perch.

A side-by-side image shows the difference in posture between a perched owl and hawk. Owls tend to perch with their heads directly over their feet, while hawks and other raptors typically lean forward.

However, broad generalizations-when based on careful observation-can be incredibly powerful. With insights like these, John has helped me move from merely seeing the world to noticing and appreciating it. I hope the phenology program does the same for you!

Topics

Introduction (0:00-0:24)
A look through John’s records (0:24-3:06)
Owl irruption (3:06-6:58)
Magpies, White-winged Crossbills, and Brown Creepers (6:58-9:35)
Aspens begin to break bud (9:35-11:13)
The hairy Juneberry (11:13-12:41)
Conclusion (12:41-16:03)

What have you seen out there? Let us know: email us at comments@kaxe.org or text us at 218-326-1234.