Red-tailed hawk in the backyard

I watched this Red-tailed hawk from my office window for quite some time this afternoon. They're big (around 24") and usually the hawks spotted perched on telephone poles. This one seemed as interested in preening itself as it did scoping for an early dinner.

I've never seen a Red-tailed hawk fly in near my feeders. They don't have the ability to maneuver in close quarters like some of the other smaller birds of prey--they're kind of the SUV of the raptor world.

Red-tailed hawk in the back yard.

Close-up of Red-tailed hawk.
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