Bird field guide · Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Photographing the Swainson's Hawk

How to photograph the Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April and May).

30–100 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
30–100 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/6.3–f/8
Aperture
31,147
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/6.3–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionFor flight shots use wide-area tracking and +0.3 to +1 EV against bright sky.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 65 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)90 mm135 mm60 mm45 mm
10 m (33 ft)179 mm269 mm120 mm90 mm
15 m (49 ft)269 mm404 mm179 mm135 mm
20 m (66 ft)359 mm539 mm239 mm179 mm
30 m (98 ft)538 mm808 mm359 mm269 mm
50 m (164 ft)897 mm1,347 mm598 mm449 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 1% Jan Feb: 1% Feb Mar: 5% Mar Apr: 21% Apr May: 17% May Jun: 12% Jun Jul: 12% Jul Aug: 15% Aug Sep: 10% Sep Oct: 4% Oct Nov: 1% Nov Dec: 1% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April and May.

About the Swainson's Hawk#

Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), is a large Buteo hawk in the Accipitriformes order. This species was named after William Swainson, a British naturalist. It is colloquially known as the grasshopper hawk or locust hawk, as it is very fond of Acrididae (locusts and grasshoppers) and will voraciously eat these insects whenever they are available.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Wintering eagles concentrate near open water and fish runs.
  • Shoot with the sun behind you to light the underwing.
  • For flight shots use wide-area tracking and +0.3 to +1 EV against bright sky.
  • Sightings peak in April and May, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Hawks, Eagles, and Kites#

Red-tailed Hawk Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus Red-shouldered Hawk Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus Cooper's HawkAstur cooperii Northern Harrier Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius Broad-winged Hawk Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Mississippi Kite Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Swainson's Hawk?

At about 65 cm long, a swainson's hawk fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 179 mm, or at 20 m with 359 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Swainson's Hawk?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Swainson's Hawk?

Observations in North America peak in April and May. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources