(Family Accipitridae/Buteo jamaicensis)

Nicknames: Chicken Hawk

Average Size: Wing span 43-56 inches, weight 1.5-3.3 lbs. Females are usually larger than males.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The red-tailed hawk is a rather large hawk with a generally cream-colored chest and underwing area, and an overall brown color on its back. Adults have a rust-colored tail (upper side only). The juveniles (1st year birds) have a brown tail with horzontal barring of a darker brown. Red-tailed hawks show a large individual variation in color, ranging from albino and other light morphs to an almost black morph (the “Harlan’s Hawk”).

Range: Found throughout most of North America except the extreme northen edge.

Habitat: Live in almost every North American habitat except dense forests and high Arctic. Very common on the plains and even found living in open spaces in large cities (Central Park in New York City, for example).

Primary Foods: Feed primarily on rodents and other small mammals, but red-tailed hawks are opportunistic feeders.

Breeding: Male and female often go through an elaborate courtship display together with aerial diving and climbing, and talon-grappling. Females typically lay 2 eggs in a stick nest high in a tree.

Other Behavior: In South Dakota and many other states, red-tailed hawks are one of the most common large birds seen sitting roadside on fenceposts and power poles. They often hunt along highway medians.

Common Human Encounters: Large hawks are often shot or poisoned because they are accused of killing livestock. These birds also are often hit by cars while hunting roadside or break wings when they hit power lines or fence wires.

(Crotalus viridis)

Average Size: 35-45 inches in length (89-114 cm), record length 57 inches (144.8 cm).

Distinguishing Characteristics: The prairie rattlesnake is a blotched snake over most of its body, but the blotches become dark stripes or crossbands near the tail. Main color of the snake is usually a grsyish-green or greenish-brown; the blotches are brown and bordered with white. Note a light line behind the eye that passes above the mouth.

Range: Found throughout most of the United States west of the Missouri River, although may also be found just east of this river as well. There are at least 2 subspecies of the prairie, one found toward the central U.S., and the other found in the western half of its range. The prairie rattlesnake has the largest range of any rattlesnake.

Habitat: The prairie rattlesnake lives in a variety of habitats, from open prairie to suburban areas and even ascends into mountainous regions. In western South Dakota they can be found both in the Badlands and in the Black Hills, and areas in between. They are locally common in some areas. “Prairies” are well-known in prairie dog towns, where they will even feed on prairie dogs and burrowing owls (contrary to popular myths).

Primary Foods: Like other rattlesnakes, prairies feed mostly on small rodents, but will also eat other warm-blooded prey and perhaps insects when they are young.

Breeding: Young are born live (not from eggs) and are 8-11 inches (21.5-28 cm) in length at birth.

Other Behavior: Rattlesnakes are most famous for their venom, which they inject through their fangs when they bite their prey. This venom is a modified form of saliva and begins the digestion process in addition to killing the prey animal. Rattlesnakes have control over the amount of venom they inject with a bite, and many bites that occur in humans contain no venom at all (a “dry bite”). Nonetheless, if bitten, the best course of action is to immediately – and calmly – get to the hospital where antivenom (antivenin) can be administered.

Rattlesnakes do normally have “rattles” on the end of their tails. They can shake these when frightened to warn off large animals like humans. However, they do not always rattle before biting, nor do they always bite when they rattle. Plus, rattlesnake rattles are made from the same material as our fingernails and frequently break off during normal wear and tear. So, do not rely upon the sight or sound of a rattle to alert you to danger!

Other Similar Snakes: There are several other species of rattlesnakes found in the United States (the Diamondback and the Mojave are just 2 others). There are also many other venomous snakes found in the U.S. (like the Cottonmouth and the Coral Snake). However, the prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake native to South Dakota.

(Family Argiopidae)

Nicknames: Argiope

Average Size: Ranging from about 0.2″ to 1″

Distinguishing Characteristics: Large, conspicuous spiders that hang head-down in their webs. They build orb-style webs with several zig-zags in them. Some have bright color patterns on them.

Range: 2,500 species found all over the world. There are several species native to South Dakota.

Habitat: Most live in gardens, meadows or fields.

Primary Foods: Insects. Orb-weavers have poor eyesight and discover their prey by the vibrations they feel through their web. They will cut out and let drop and inedible item that gets stuck in their web.

Breeding: In the fall, female orb-weavers produce egg sacs containing several hundred eggs. They do not take care of their babies. It appears that their young (spiderlings) face many hazards and thus the female lays many eggs.

Other Behavior: Orb-weavers’ weaving changes as the spiders mature. Normally young spiders’ webs contain much more zig-zagging than mature spiders’. Their complicated webs are the subject of much study by scientists.

Common Human Encounters: This spider is not dangerous to humans and is frequently seen by observant hikers. The spiders are long-legged and often colorful. They, however, often fall victim to human prejudice toward insects and spiders.

Subsecies: Two major subspecies are recognized, the “Congo” Gray and the “Timneh” Gray, although other subspecies probably exist.

Average size: To the average person, the African Gray would be considered an “average-sized” parrot, similar in size to most species of Amazon parrots. Average length is 33 cm from beak to tail.

Distinguishing Characterisitics: The Congo Gray is a silvery-gray color with a bright red tail. The Timneh is also grey, but is usually smaller in size and has a deep maroon tail.

Range: Original range is central Africa, from the west coast, to just west of the eastern coast.

Habitat: Found primarily in the lowland forests of their range, however, they will venture into savannah woodland and open country to feed.

Primary Foods: Seeds, nuts, fruits and berries, found mostly in treetops.

Breeding: Variable breeding season, but typically lay three eggs.

Other Notes: The African Gray Parrot is a very popular pet parrot and was once collected and imported into the United States in huge numbers. This intelligent parrot is still collected in the wild, but, as with other wwild parrots, is no longer brought into the U.S. in significant numbers. These birds are still sold to other countries, however.

The most famous African Gray Parrot is “Alex,” owned by Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Alex has learned to identify objects by name, color and number. Much literature has been written about parrot intelligence because of Dr. Pepperberg’s work with Alex. You can find more information about Alex on the internet.

African Gray Parrots are also known as some of the best “talkers” of the parrot world. It is important to note, however, that most parrots seem to simply mimic sounds they hear, not truly understand their vocabulary. (Alex has showed that this is not true of all parrots!) African Grays can imitate not only the sounds of human voices, but also other sounds like phones ringing, microwaves beeping and dogs barking.

Despite their intelligence (or perhaps because of it), Grays are not the ideal pet for most people. They require a tremendous amount of attention. They may be a smart as 3-year-old human children and thus require as much care as a young child. They can not be left in their cages all the time to become bored or lonely, or they may adopt bad habits such as feather-picking (or other self-mutilation).

(Family Tytonidae/Tyto alba)

Nicknames: Monkey-faced owl, ghost owl

Average Length: 11-17 inches

Average Weight: 12-20 ounces

Average Wingspan: around 3 feet

Other Characteristics: Single, white
facial disk (heart-shaped), legs and feet
unfeathered, white underside and tawny
back, “preening comb” (comb-like ridge) on one
talon on each foot, long legs for size, small dark
eyes

Status: Endangered or threatened in some parts of its range

Range: Found throughout most of Central America and the United States, except for the extreme north. There are at least 13 types of barn owls, found on every continent except Antarctica. In South Dakota they are not common due to our extreme weather, but a nest of five babies was found in 1999 in an old barn (near Rapid City) when it was torn down.

Habitat: Prefers open country like planted fields. Known occasionally to inhabit open parks in urban areas.

Primary Foods: Mice, rats, shrews, voles.

Breeding: Believed that at least some pairs will mate for their entire lives. Often lays more than one clutch of eggs per year. One clutch contains 3 to 7 eggs. Nest in old buildings (such as barns or belfries) on ledges or rafters, although they will use tree cavities. Will nest in man-made boxes.

Other Behavior: Has the best hearing of any bird in the world, partially due to its unique facial disk which functions to catch sound waves. Preyed upon by great horned owls. Their call has been described as a woman screaming in terror.

Common Human-related Problems: Habitat loss (nesting sites and farmland); hit by cars when hunting; secondary poisoning; persecution by humans.