Click on image to enlarge. Colloquial name in brackets when appropriate.

EAGLES

Bald Eagle (Grepe) is a common year-round resident of Newfoundland. The immature birds are all brown, with white mottling in their feathers. As they near adulthood after about three years, they develop the characteristic white tail and head.

VULTURES

Turkey Vulture is an extremely rare visitor to the island of Newfoundland. Only one record has been obtained, from the Codroy Valley in 2001.

ACCIPITERS

Sharp-shinned Hawk  is an uncommon but regular visitor year-round. It breeds in Labrador, and rarely on the island. "Sharpies" are frequent visitors to feeders in winter. They have long tails and relatively short, "fingered" wings, and can fly very well inside the forest.

Northern Goshawk is an uncommon resident of Newfoundland. The bird shown here is an immature. The goshawk is an Accipiter - a member of a genus that is typified by relatively short, rounded wings and a long tail. The picture of the bird in flight - a somewhat surreal image - shows the strong underwing barring and finger-like primary feathers that are  typical of all our Accipiters.

OSPREY

Osprey (Fish Hawk) are common summer breeding birds throughout most of Newfoundland. They feed on fish and are usually found near estuaries or along rivers and large streams. Right Photo © Cal King

BUTEOS

        Swainson's Hawk is a very rare visitor from the Canadian Prairies. There is only one record for this species in Newfoundland, although it is common throughout its regular range and wanders widely during migration. Swainson's Hawk is a very long-winged Buteo, as can be seen in the photo on the left.

Red-tailed Hawk is fairly common in southern Labrador but rare on the island of Newfoundland.

OWLS

Great Horned Owl (Cat Owl) is fairly common throughout the province. It is a large and powerful bird that can hunt animals as big as snowshoe hares with ease. Its call is the typical "Whoo....whoo whooo!!! The right photo shows a downy owlet. Photos © J. Kevin Butler

Snowy Owl is an uncommon, eruptive winter visitor from the Arctic. Males are almost entirely white, while females have varying amounts of black flecking. This bird was photographed at Salmonier Nature Park. Photo © Cal King.

Boreal Owl is the smallest nesting species of owl in Newfoundland. It's call resembles the winnowing of a snipe.