Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162368

I saw a red tailed hawk swoop down and get a snake a few weeks ago...I tried to get a photograph but it wasn't clear enough to identify the species.

-Rusty
Hawk VS Rat Snake

NOW THAT is some incredible nature at it's BEST!!!...WOW!!!!

Thanks for posting that Rusty, that is one of the coolest things I have seen in a LOONG time!

That was a very textbook phenotype Texas Ratsnake (Pantherophis Lindheimeri)

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Totally. I saw it on FHF a week or so ago. I agree with Doug on the Ratsnake ID. Pretty cool stuff.
-----
_______________________

-Cole

I too saw it on FHF. Pretty incredible. The snake ID is the easy part... How about an ID on the raptor?
-----
Joe

Juvenile Red-tailed would be my guess... very cool set of photos in any case... thanks for posting them Rusty!

Gerry

"Juvenile Red-tailed would be my guess"

An immature Redtailed Hawk was my very first thought too Gerry.....the sparce incomplete plumage and how it got into that crazy situation with the Texas Rat in the first place would fit very well with it being a very young, inexperienced Redtail. I know their tail's don't develop into red feathers until later in life.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Glad you agree, I was a little uncertain given the poor birds less than pristine condition

I thought the courting and mating snapping turtles my son Nathan and I observed this past spring was very cool... but this set of photos/experience is "way cooler"... rescue both predator and prey without the benefit of a boat it seems... good day and memory for someone.

Gerry

Man, I couldn't agree more. That was one of THE coolest things/situations I have ever seen, and I can't hardly believe the snake wasn't all gouged-up and beat up more from the talons and beak!....just incredible!

Couldn't be happier for the hawk as well....great ending!

~Doug

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Juvenile Red-tailed would be my guess... very cool set of photos in any case... thanks for posting them Rusty!
>>
>>Gerry

That seems to be the concencus over at FHF but there has been a lot of discussing leading to that point. Some of the input was from people who seemed to be serious birders, and no one seemed to be 100% sure.
-----
Joe

Hey Rusty,

I had seen those pictures before - someone emailed them to me but it was cool to see them again. That is so wild (pun intended). Thanks for posting.

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk snakes

Great pics! Those Texas Rats are bad ass! That hawk looks like I feel after doing my income tax!

You're on the ball if you have your income taxes already done Stu!!!

I had to look up the Texas Rat snake...knew it was a rat, just couldn't tell what kind!

Glad you all had the same difficulties with the Raptor ID...I would agree the it could be a Red Tailed Hawk, however I think it could also be a Broad-Winged Hawk, and maybe a small chance it could be a Red Shouldered Hawk (common in the Southeastern US).

-Rusty

I'd still bet a weeks pay on the red-tailed but there is still a little doubt... in any case a very cool set of photos, thanks again Rusty.

Gerry