Phil Seu Wildlife photography

Gallery Categories

Raptors/Birds of Prey

5 galleries with 53 photos

Updated: Feb 08, 2010 12:33pm GMT

1 gallery with 3 photos

Updated: Feb 07, 2010 1:54pm GMT

3 galleries with 19 photos

Updated: Jan 29, 2010 2:03am GMT

Most Popular Photos

This is a juvenile male Anna's characterized by red gorget, small areas on red on crown and the narrow white tail bands. The flower is of the Foxglove sp.

American Kestrels, Falco sparverius, are the smallest falcons in North America. They are colorful and are unusual among raptors in demonstrating distinct sexual dimorphism. They are found in a variety of habit and are frequently seen perch hunting or hovering. They feed on a variety of prey including insects, small mammals and small birds.

Hummingbirds' ability to hover while feeding allows them to take advantage of flowers that hang vertically such as this fuchsia.

Photograph of a Harris's Hawk taken in southern Texas.
Harris's Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) are medium to large-sized. They are recognizable by the rufous coloring of their shoulders and thighs. They are found in the desert Southwestern United States as well as Mexico and parts of South America where they are also known as the Bay-winged Hawk.

Harris's Hawks are known to be social birds often seen hunting and feeding cooperatively. They display a dominance hierarchy and not uncommonly, two males are seen raising young with one female.

This is an image of a female Northern Harrier in her winter hunting grounds.
Northern Harriers are hawks that have a distinctive light facial disc of specialized feathers that are believed to aid in hearing. This photograph shows a female Northern Harrier which a dark brown head, brown and white streaked face, brown topside and barred lower side wings. The male has a light gray head, back and chest, with a white belly and black tipped wings. Both sexes have a distinct white rump.

I was shooting out of my car and this owl fly by for a closer look.
Owls are in the order Strigiformes and the family Strigidae. The Short-eared Owl is one of the more common owls with a wide distribution in the New and Old Worlds. It feeds mainly on small mammals but will sometimes take birds.

Though owls are considered nocturnal raptors, some owls such as the Short-eared and the Snowy Owls are often seen hunting during daylight hours.

This photograph shows a Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, hunting over a typical grassland habitat. They have a distinctive recognizable flight pattern which consists of low level flight and hovering mixed with erratic and bounding movements. They use sound to detect their prey but often start hunting in the late afternoon. This image was taken in February 2008 in Sacramento County, California, shortly before sunset.

Owls are in the order Strigiformes and the family Strigidae. The Short-eared Owl is one of the more common owls with a wide distribution in the New and Old Worlds. It feeds mainly on small mammals but will sometimes take birds.

Though owls are considered nocturnal raptors, some owls such as the Short-eared and the Snowy Owls are often seen hunting during daylight hours.

American Kestrels, Falco sparverius, are the smallest falcons in North America. They are colorful and are unusual among raptors in demonstrating distinct sexual dimorphism. They are found in a variety of habit and are frequently seen perch hunting or hovering. They feed on a variety of prey including insects, small mammals and small birds.

Northern Harriers are hawks that have a distinctive light facial disc of specialized feathers that are believed to aid in hearing. This photograph shows a female Northern Harrier which a dark brown head, brown and white streaked face, brown topside and barred lower side wings. The male has a light gray head, back and chest, with a white belly and black tipped wings. Both sexes have a distinct white rump.

This photograph shows an adult male Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). Northern Harriers are one of the few raptors that show readily recognizable sexual dimorphism. Males have gray topsides and black wingtips while females and juveniles are browner. The ventral surfaces of males' wings are light colored with dark trailing edges on the secondaries. Both sexes have a light facial disc which aids in hearing and a distinctive white rump.

This photograph is a portrait of a wild adult Bald Eagle. It is unfortunately a little dirty from a recent fish meal.
The Bald Eagle is a large bird of prey found mostly in North America. It was on the brink of extinction in the continental United States in the 20th century but due to conservation measures the populations are now stable.

The familiar adult form takes five to six years to reach. Juveniles lack the white head and tail feathers and can sometimes be mistaken for the larger Golden Eagle.
Though Bald Eagles are primarily known as fish eaters, they are opportunistic feeders and will steal from other birds, eat carrion and even scavenge garbage dumps.

Vertical image of a Short-eared Owl in flight.
Owls are in the order Strigiformes and the family Strigidae. The Short-eared Owl is one of the more common owls with a wide distribution in the New and Old Worlds. It feeds mainly on small mammals but will sometimes take birds.

Though owls are considered nocturnal raptors, some owls such as the Short-eared and the Snowy Owls are often seen hunting during daylight hours.

American Kestrels, Falco sparverius, are the smallest falcons in North America. They are colorful and are unusual among raptors in demonstrating distinct sexual dimorphism. They are found in a variety of habit and are frequently seen perch hunting or hovering. They feed on a variety of prey including insects, small mammals and small birds.