Swainson's Buzzard

The Swainson's Hawk , is a large buteo hawk of the Falconiformes, sometimes separated in the Accipitriformes like its relatives. This species was named after William Swainson, a British naturalist. It is colloquially known as Grasshopper Hawk or Locust Hawk, as it is very fond of Acrididae and will voraciously eat these insects whenever they are available.

The Swainson's Buzzard is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Swainson's Buzzard is locally called 'Hen Hawk,' yet the term is a complete misnomer, for in my twenty- three years' experience with the bird I have never observed it to take poultry of any kind, nor have I obtained the slightest evidence that it ever does so. However, if you give a dog a bad name you may hang him, and the unfortunate buzzard, being credited with the misdeeds of the Prairie Falcon, Goshawk, or Harrier, is in a like ease. More

Swainson's Buzzard, a variety of hawk. This image was included in: Reports of Explorations and Surveys .... Volume X. 1859. Plate XII. P. 16 of U. S. Pacific Railroad Explorations and Surveys 38th,39th, 41st Parallels. Library Call Number F593 .U58 1855. Image ID: libr0161, Treasures of the NOAA Library Collection Location: Western United States Photographer: Archival Photograph by Mr. More