Almost an adult: the Great Black Hawk

A young Great Black Hawk getting ready for the big world.

Ask any birder or photographer which kind of bird they would like to see and 99% of them will say: the Harpy Eagle. It is still the no. 1 on any birder/photographer's list. The largest predator of the birds in the Amazon and with a status of being known as also an endangered species, you'll understand why. 

But meeting the Harpy Eagle is a 50/50 chance of success, so instead of focusing on just one large bird I am looking for any kind of bird to photograph. On this day I was lucky to spot a young Great Black Hawk. 

This Great Black Hawk was still in development, if you look closely you still can see some light streaks or spots on his face, on his chest, tail and wings. The confidence and fierce look is already there. 

This Great Black Hawk was spotted near the airstrip and as you can see, he was also scanning the area for potential prey. Small birds, lizards, frogs, toads need to be alert as this young fellow is not afraid to use his sharp beak and pointy sharp long talons.

* I took these pictures in the rainforest of Kabalebo, Suriname. Here in the jungle, wildlife is not harmed or threatened. This gives me also the opportunity to photograph and observe them in their own environment.

​You may also like the following post:

great black hawk