Red-tails in Love

12 March 2019

     My daughter, Caroline, just visited with us for a few days, and as usual, had a few birds in mind that she would like to see. Principally among these was the Barred Owl (Strix varia) we had been observing with regularity, and a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at the Conestogo River where, for several years, a pair has successfully raised young. We were able to deliver on both of these wishes but our subsequent encounter with a pair of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) was a bonus for her. And for us for that matter.
     Our regular Tuesday Ramble with David saw us visit Hillside Park in Waterloo where we had observed a pair of Red-tails a few weeks earlier. We saw them again, (presumably the same pair), and it was quite a show they put on for us. Caroline could have majored in Avian Sex 101, maybe even 202!

     A good deal is written in the literature about the spectacular courtship displays of Red-tailed Hawks, with their aerial gymnastics and food exchanges, but little about the act of copulation or its frequency. It seems that a food exchange is sometimes involved before committing the deed, but no such transfer was observed on this occasion.

     We had first observed the female alone perched on a Spruce tree (Picea, sp.) when the male came in and without hesitation, appeasement or ceremony immediately mounted the female. Copulation was quite vigorous and lasted for around a minute or so, the male using his wings to balance on the female's back.
     As soon as the act was over the male dismounted and moved away from the female, sometimes at quite a distance into the shelter of the foliage along the branch close to the trunk. They did not maintain eye contact post-copulation.

     In the picture above you can readily observe the size dimorphism between male and female, the smaller male being at the right.
     As the male sidled along the branch away from his partner the female maintained her position the entire time.

     After an interval of only a few minutes, the entire intense sequence was repeated.

     When we left the two birds were perched fairly close together, still not making eye contact, however.

     Whether more sequences would have ensued I don't know but we felt that our voyeuristic impulses had been satisfied and we moved on! 
      It was a fascinating encounter and I am hoping that we may be fortunate enough to find their nest and perhaps see young birds fledge from it. I am sure that we will all feel like proud parents watching our grandchildren go out to meet life with all its challenges!
     As usual I am very grateful to Miriam for dedicating herself to the task of recording the event and coming up with a superb series of images. The encounter would be much the poorer without her contribution.