Living in Manhattan, Central Park is my wilderness. I often see squirrels, ducks, geese, raccoons and turtles, but this weekend I was treated to something extra special. This stunning hawk who at first I thought was injured or had been in a fight (due to the bunch of feathers all over the ground around him), had in fact caught a pigeon for lunch and was in the process of shredding it. This red-tailed hawk, along with a few others often hunt in central park, but this is the first time I got to see this magnificent bird at close range. Female red-tailed hawks grow larger than their male companions, and both are known to be monogamous in their relationship. Eggs and chicks are primarily looked after by the female hawk while her male partner provides them with food. It sounds like she has him well trained.
Laura Lecce's art and photography 
This is an incredible photo!
LikeLike
Thanks Josh, right place at the right time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great spot, Laura! It is always great to see successful urban wildlife. It doesn’t get more wild in Manhattan than a hawk kill! Well… not involving wildlife anyway… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi David, it is great to see wildlife thriving in such a populated city, and great for me to escape the city too!
New York in many other ways is way to “wild” for me 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you! This is where I come to work each day, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no idea you worked in Manhattan. Then like myself, you probably use travel as a way to escape the city…. keeps me from going crazy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! I’ve worked here for coming up on 3 years. I have to get out to find green places and wildlife. Even if it is just for a weekend drive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a stunning bird! You were fortunate, indeed! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, right place at the right time for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Impressive shot!
LikeLike
Thanks Lorrie,
Have a great week!
LikeLike
Awesome experience and photos Laura. My Hubby and I had a similar experience in Scotland whilst on holidays. We were driving down the road and just in front of us an Osprey swooped down to pick up a rabbit. It was an unforgettable moment .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Linny,
There’s just something so special about these large and powerful birds.
What a cool experience for you in Scotland! I’ve heard it’s a very beautiful country.
LikeLike
Yes Laura it is an amazing country and def worth a visit. Put it on your bucket list and make sure you go right up to the very top into the Highlands. Wonderful scenery and wildlife.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment Linny, I will most definitely keep it in mind!
LikeLike
Fabulous! Fantastic! — I dream of getting a better camera… I wish you a nice day! Franz
LikeLiked by 1 person
Considering how little time a hawk actually spends on the ground with a kill (after who knows how many unsuccessful attempts), you were definitely in the right spot at the right time! A little wildness in the heart of a city is a very good thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. I actually expected the hawk to take his dead pigeon somewhere more private to eat, but he seemed quite happy enjoying lunch infront of an audience. I have friends who have also said the same, they were trying to have a relaxing picnic but lost their apetite because a hawk nearby was ripping into a rat.
I love that even when I’m stuck in the city on a weekend I can get my fair share of nature too. It’s good for the soul.
LikeLike
Love the picture. Have been to New York city once. Did so much and loved every minute but did not make it to central park. Hope to go back and see all the places we missed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Varla,
Shame you didn’t get to see Central Park, it can be very beautiful especially in Spring or Fall, hopefully you get to come back again. It’s so hard to see all of New York in one trip, there’s so much to see and do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is on my bucket list to come back.
LikeLike
We could do with a few more hawks around here with all the pigeons that eat my vegetables. My daughter maybe scared the last one off as it decapitated a pigeon mid air by our back door, in front of her. The hawk flew past me empty beaked as my daughter’s screams continued and I was left to clear up the mess, including an arc of pigeon blood on the wall. Unfortunately we didnt get a photo of the incident.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, what a story! Shame the hawk didn’t get to take the meal with him, I imagine it was pretty gross cleaning up the murder scene of a headless pigeon.
LikeLike
Wow this is breathtakingly beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, but I cannot take too much credit, the bird was just gorgeous!
LikeLike
Great picture, Laura. Yesterday I saw a Coopers hawk about 10 feet away, just outside my studio window. He had a bird, probably a sparrow, he had just taken out of a bush a few feet away. I was able to take a couple pictures and a video of him pecking away, feathers flying in the wind. Last week a hawk, possibly the same one, landed on the hedge just outside my kitchen window as I stood at the sink. He apparently knows the birds like to hide there. He looked straight at me, I looked at him, then he flew off. Did not even have time to reach for my phone camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Irene,
Great story, thanks for sharing! How lucky you are to see these impressive birds coming to your house. Not so great for the little birds that are getting eaten though.
LikeLike