Cassidy

Swainson’s Hawk Ambassador

Cassidy
Sex:

Female

Arrival:

2020 / Juvenile

Injury / Condition:

Fractured left wing

About Cassidy

Cassidy was brought to Liberty Wildlife as an immature, first year with a badly fractured left wing. Following a week in ICU, Cassidy began having severe sloughing of the tissue, an indication that her injury resulted from electric shock. Eventually, the left-wing tip was amputated, limiting her full flight capabilities. She was classified as non-releasable and assigned to the education team.

Description

The Swainson’s hawk spends most of the year in the western United States extending into southwest Canada and south to west Texas.

Life Span

While many live less than two years, those that survive the first few years in the wild can live 8 to 10 years. The oldest known wild Swainson’s hawk lived to at least 24 years old.

Prey / Food

The Swainson’s hawk is somewhat of a generalist and eats whatever it can find. During the breeding season, as much as 90% of Swainson’s hawks diet will consist of small mammals. It will also hunt insects especially grasshoppers, crickets and locusts and birds, and occasionally reptiles and amphibians.

Babies / Nests

They build their nests in trees, shrubs, on the ground, or on top of utility poles. Clutch size ranges from one to four eggs but averages two to three. Incubation lasts for about 30 days. The young hatch and stay in the nest for another 30 days.

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