MOURC Proceedings Archive - Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles Accepted
Duplicates
This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
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Proceedings
Species: Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
White-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Golden Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
American Goshawk
Mississippi Kite
[Common Black Hawk]
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk

Swainson's Hawk (R) (Buteo swainsoni)Start Date 1936-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
avian
information
1968-07-17Hubbard7/17 Hubbard (first county record)
7-17 Lake Belle Taine, near Nevis, Hubbard Co, nest with Jy, attended by 2ad, good details, LWJ.
avian
information
1981-06-011981-07-31Anokasummer Anoka (first summer record)
Breeding data from Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Rice. Seen within range plus Wright (Silver Creek Twp.), Washington (Cottage Grove). Ba,ld Eagle Breeding data from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Houston; nesting reported from Beltrami. Seen throughout range plus Anoka, Chisago, Washington.
15:561943indexA Swainson's Hawk Near Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
26:411954indexLiving in Harmony
31:981959indexSwainson's Hawk in Dodge County, Minnesota
32:1241960indexSwainson's Hawk Nesting in Dodge County
34:991962indexSwainson's Hawk in Duluth
42:1451970indexMelanistic Swainson's Hawk in Duluth
46:1721974indexPossible Nesting of Swainson's Hawk in Steele County
47:61-661975indexNesting of Swainson's Hawks in Southeastern Minnesota
47:1931975indexSwainson's Hawks Nest Again in Austin
48:1861976indexSwainson's Hawk Concentration
51:47-481979indexLate Swainson's Hawk in Anoka County
154:421981-10-18DuluthSt. Louis(vote 6-1) Accepted
54:73-1041982indexRaptors of Minnesota -- Nesting Distribution and Population Status
54:1471982-01-04HastingsDakota(vote 2-5) The sketch and written description provided by the experienced observer were almost convincing, especially since they included the white wing linings and dark flight feathers. However, the majority felt that this species is extremely unlikely in the northern U.S. in mid-winter (there are no previous acceptable winter records from any northern state). More troublesome is that misidentifications involving this species, even by relatively Fall 1982 experienced observers, are frequent, primarily because of the mistaken belief that a Buteo with a dark chest and tail with narrow light bands and a wider, darker sub-terminal band has to be a Swainson's (both these features were described here and may have been overly influential in the observer's identification; Red-taileds can also have dark chests and melanistic Rough-leggeds often have tails as described above). The observer may have correctly identified this bird, but the record would have been more convincing if it were known if the observer was fully aware of the significance of the record and was unduly influenced by the dark chest and the tail pattern. Not Accepted
55:1171983-03-23Near SaratogaWinona(vote 4-3, with 5-2 required for acceptance) The majority voted to accept based on the. description of the wing linings being whiter than the dark underside of the flight feathers . However, there were reservations based on the fact that this was not a typical adult light-phase Swainson's being identifiedthe head and wing coverts were described as "red-brown," and there was a black stripe through the whitish wing linings and the minority felt this may have been some other Buteo in aberrant plumage. Not Accepted
56:2751984indexErythristic Swainson's Hawk
57:1831985indexTwo Late Fall Migrant Raptors in Hennepin County
58:1461985-11-02near Red WingGoodhue(vote 3-4). This was a difficult and close vote; although the description fit Swainson's Hawk, the diagnostic underwing pattern was not clearly described, and it seemed the identification w.as based on features shared by other species. Some felt the possibility of it being a Red-tailed or a Northern Harrier was not completely ruled out. Not Accepted
58:1461985-11-08Hwy. 38Itasca(vote 1-6). Although the underwing pattern was correctly described , the bird was seen well only by a relatively inexperienced birder (the most experienced observer with him apparently did not get a good look), and the bird was only observed from a moving car-birds seen then often look different than they really are; many birders have stopped to look at something they thought was different only to find it doesn't look the same as it did from the moving car. The majority felt a better look from the more experienced birder was needed to accept the sighting of a species this far out of season, range and habitat. Not Accepted
58:1461986-01-25WinonaWinona(vote 1-6). Although the diagnostic pattern of "dark flight feathers" and "white wing linings" was described, the majority felt that a Swainson's Hawk in midwinter was so unlikely and unprecedented that all doubts should be eliminated before accepting such a record. However, there were problems with the documentation: a photo was taken of the bird which was not clear enough to show any field marks, but the shape of the wings appeared to be wrong for a Swainson's (they appear too broad and rounded-a Swainson's has relatively long and pointed wings for a Buteo); the identification was partly based on "a hood effect" and "a narrow dark subterminal band" on the barred tail, features shared by other raptors; although the bird was "too small to be a Bald Eagle" (immatures have a similar underwing pattern), it is unclear how the size Fall1986 was determined (and the shape of the bird in the photo suggests Bald Eagle); and the observer was looking up into the sun, which could have made the field marks difficult to see accurately. Not Accepted
avian
information
1987-07-19Ramsey7/19 Ramsey (first county record)
Nested in Mower. Also seen in Mahnomen, Clay, Swift, Pipestone, Rock, Murray, Waseca, Steele, Fillmore, Olmsted, Goodhue, Dakota.
59:1581987indexA Kettle of Swainson's Hawks
61:119-1211989indexThe Red-tailed Hawk Impersonator
64:1381989-03-26near Sauk CentreTodd(vote 0-7). The written description included in the published documentation (The Loon 61:119-121) only mentions a "dark brown breast patch", hardly enough to identify a Swainson's Hawk, and one of the sketches shows the folded wing tips stopping far short of the end of the tail, contrary to what a Swainson's should look like. While another sketch certainly suggests Swainson 's Hawk, it is unknown when it was made and how so much detail could have been seen since viewing conditions were unfavorable due to fog and since no binoculars were used. Not Accepted
262:1341989-10-31DuluthSt. Louis(vote 7-0; The Loon 62:57). Accepted
62:571990indexVery Late Date for Swainson's Hawk
63:411990-03-18near WindomCottonwood(vote 2-5) . The description was too brief and vague to be convincing, especially since the distinctive underwing pattern of a Swainson's Hawk was not clearly seen or described , probably because the hawk was reportedly a half mile away. The identification was based primarily on a dark upper chest, but many Red-tailed Hawks, adult male light-morph Rough-leggeds , and immature Bald Eagles are al so dark on the chest/throat area. Not Accepted
62:1341990-04-07MinneapolisHennepin(vote 0-7) . The description, while lengthy, is unfortunately too vague about chest and tail patterns to eliminate other buteos like Red-tailed and Rough-legged . Also , even though the hawk circled directly overhead, no mention was made of the Swainson's Hawk's diagnostic pale wing linings/dark flight feathers underwing pattern . Not Accepted
avian
information
1990-10-05Aitkin10/5 Aitkin (first county record)
Hawk Ridge count: 3; late north 9/22 Mille Lacs DB, Otter Tail MO, 10/5 Aitkin DS, 10/12 Polk DS; late south 9/27 Pipestone JP, 9/30 Rice AB, 10/4 Brown JS.
avian
information
1993-06-26Roseau6/26 Roseau (first summer record)
Seen in eight western counties plus Clearwater, Dakota, Mower; an injured bird was found on 7/8 in Virginia, St. Louis Co. SW/MS.
avian
information
1993-07-08St. Louis7/8 St. Louis (first summer record)
Seen in eight western counties plus Clearwater, Dakota, Mower; an injured bird was found on 7/8 in Virginia, St. Louis Co. SW/MS.
avian
information
1993-08-22Clearwater8/22 Clearwater (first fall record)
Hawk Ridge count: four. Late north 8/22 Clearwater RG, 9/24 Hawk Ridge, 10/2 Otter Tail SDM. Late south 9/12 Brown JS, 9/18 Hennepin KB, 10/13 Rice OR.
66:1271993-12-10Highway 13WasecaWhile the brief documentation is consistent with Swainson's Hawk, it included only a casual description of the underwing. No optics were used, and it sounds as if the hawk was only seen as the observer was driving. Since this species has a long history of being involved in misidentifications, especially during winter, a more careful look and complete description would be needed to accept such an unprecedented winter record. Not Accepted
66:47-481994indexFirst Summer Season Record of Swainson's Hawk in St. Louis County
70:1561997-11-12HovlandCook(record #98-06, vote 0-7). The entire description only includes mention of “light underside with dark head and dark band on bottom edge of wide tail”, which is too incomplete to make an identification; such a description could fit several raptors. Also, the observer was unaware this species is unusual at this time and location and is also apparently inexperienced with raptor identification, claiming to have seen dark-morph Swainson's several times before in this area. Not Accepted
avian
information
2000-08-08Carver8/8 Carver (first fall record)
Only north reports: 8/29 Clay DPJ, 9/12–23 St. Louis (14 at HRNR) FN et al. Reported from nine south counties, mostly from west-central, southwest and south-central regions. Late south 9/21 Steele NFT, 9/23 Lac qui Parle (2) FAE.
avian
information
2001-06-03Meeker6/3 Meeker (first summer record)
Observed in Traverse, Douglas, Stearns, Meeker, Pipestone, Dakota, Waseca, Steele, Olmsted, Mower; plus county first 6/9 Carlton (light-morph adult) TAT. [Corrected]
avian
information
2001-06-09Carlton6/9 Carlton (first summer record)
Observed in Traverse, Douglas, Stearns, Meeker, Pipestone, Dakota, Waseca, Steele, Olmsted, Mower; plus county first 6/9 Carlton (light-morph adult) TAT. [Corrected]
avian
information
2001-06-24Stearns6/24 Stearns (first summer record)
Observed in Traverse, Douglas, Stearns, Meeker, Pipestone, Dakota, Waseca, Steele, Olmsted, Mower; plus county first 6/9 Carlton (light-morph adult) TAT. [Corrected]
avian
information
2002-10-05McLeod10/5 McLeod (first fall record)
Only north reports: 8/12 Traverse CRM, 9/14, 9/15, 9/22 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN, DSC et al. High count 9/21 Jackson (kettle of 8) KRE et al. Reported from seven south counties, including (late south) 10/5 McLeod DMF.
avian
information
2003-07-20Meeker7/20 Meeker (second summer record)
Record-high number of reports. Observed in 11 western counties plus Carver, Washington, Dakota, Rice, Waseca, Steele, Mower; also 6/11 Kandiyohi PFS, 7/20 Meeker DMF.
avian
information
2003-08-27Kanabec8/27 Kanabec (first fall record)
All north reports: 8/27 Pine/Kanabec †JMP, 9/1 Kittson KRE et al., 9/15 Red Lake DDM, BJM, 9/19 Polk JMJ, 9/20 Red Lake (Equality Twp.) PHS, 9/28 Clearwater (Popple Twp.) PHS, and total of seven at H.R.N.R. in Duluth between 8/16 and 10/4 (FJN, DSC, TSm). Found in eight south counties including (late south) 9/22 Big Stone BJU.
avian
information
2005-07-19Hennepin7/19 Hennepin (first summer record)
Most reports ever: seen in 17 counties in all southern and central regions, plus Polk, Clay, Wilkin, Traverse.
avian
information
2005-08-12McLeod8/12 McLeod (second fall record)
Reported from nine north and eight south counties. Four at H.R.B.O. in Duluth between 9/6 and 9/18 (FJN, RSB). Late north 10/8 Mahnomen and Norman BJU, 10/16 Clay PBB. Late south 10/1 Rock (dark morph near Luverne) KRE, 10/7 Sherburne ASc, 10/14 Lac qui Parle BJU.
avian
information
2005-10-07Sherburne10/7 Sherburne (first fall record)
Reported from nine north and eight south counties. Four at H.R.B.O. in Duluth between 9/6 and 9/18 (FJN, RSB). Late north 10/8 Mahnomen and Norman BJU, 10/16 Clay PBB. Late south 10/1 Rock (dark morph near Luverne) KRE, 10/7 Sherburne ASc, 10/14 Lac qui Parle BJU.
avian
information
2006-10-02McLeod10/2 McLeod (third fall record)
Only north reports: 8/30 Traverse BJU, 9/19, 9/20, 10/7 St. Louis (singles at Duluth) H.R.B.O. Found in 11 south counties. Late south 10/19 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/24 Anoka DPG (median 10/2).
avian
information
2007-07-07Sherburne7/7 Sherburne (second summer record)
Observed south and west of a line from Polk to Olmsted. First country breeding record for Olmsted JWH.
avian
information
2009-09-28Nicollet9/28 Nicollet (first fall record)
All north reports: 8/17 Polk SAS, 8/22 Polk JMJ, 10/4 Otter Tail NAJ, 10/24 Polk JMJ. Late south 9/12 Meeker DMF, 9/28 Nicollet RMD (median 10/3).
avian
information
2010-06-04Nicollet6/4 Nicollet (second summer record)
Reported south of a line from Big Stone to Dakota, plus Polk.
avian
information
2011-05-15Isanti5/15 Isanti (first county record)
Early south (median 4/3) 3/26 Washington RLW, 4/8 Yellow Medicine KRE, m.ob., 4/9 Big Stone LS, Lac qui Parle, Stevens m.ob. New county record 5/15 Isanti LS. All north reports: 5/7 Todd FGo, 5/28 Douglas HHD, RAE.
avian
information
2011-09-12Scott9/12 Scott (first fall record)
Seasonal total of 10 at H.R.B.O. in Duluth (KJB), all in September. All other north reports: 8/19 Kittson (Halma) LeG, 8/21–9/4 Polk m.ob., 8/21–9/18 Traverse (Walls Twp.) BJU, 8/31–9/18 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) m.ob., 9/24 Clay NAJ. Late south 10/15 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/1 Hennepin LMS, 11/11 Goodhue (record late, juvenile light morph, Minneola Twp.) †PHS (median 10/5).
avian
information
2012-06-24Stearns6/24 Stearns (second summer record)
Observed in all regions except North-Central, Northeast.
avian
information
2015-07-25Nicollet7/25 Nicollet (third summer record)
Found in scattered locations in all western and southern regions plus Dakota, Kandiyohi.
avian
information
2015-08-08Carver8/8 Carver (second fall record)
High count 9/28 Blue Earth (4) B.H.W. Late north 9/18 St. Louis (2, H.R.B.O.) KJB, 9/29 Todd CSh. Late south 10/5–12 Blue Earth (max. 2) B.H.W. (median 10/5).
avian
information
2015-09-07Roseau9/7 Roseau (second fall record)
High count 9/28 Blue Earth (4) B.H.W. Late north 9/18 St. Louis (2, H.R.B.O.) KJB, 9/29 Todd CSh. Late south 10/5–12 Blue Earth (max. 2) B.H.W. (median 10/5).
avian
information
2016-09-162016-10-08Ramsey9/16, 10/8 Ramsey (second county record)
High counts 10/6 Kandiyohi (60, total from two kettles) JoS, 10/7 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O., 10/8 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/6, 10/7, 10/8 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 10/7 Carver JTg, 10/8 Blue Earth B.H.W., Ramsey (2) LiH, 10/9 Big Stone DLP (median 10/6).
avian
information
2016-10-07Carver10/7 Carver (third county record)
High counts 10/6 Kandiyohi (60, total from two kettles) JoS, 10/7 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O., 10/8 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/6, 10/7, 10/8 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 10/7 Carver JTg, 10/8 Blue Earth B.H.W., Ramsey (2) LiH, 10/9 Big Stone DLP (median 10/6).
avian
information
2017-09-17Wabasha9/17 Wabasha (first fall record)
High count 9/26 Blue Earth (3) BHW. Late north 10/1 St. Louis (dark juvenile, H.R.N.R.) AxM, 10/4 St. Louis BMu, (dark juvenile) H.R.B.O., 10/13 Becker ShG, HeH (median 9/28). Late south 10/7 Blue Earth BHW, 10/8 Le Sueur (2) ebd, 10/13 Brown MiO (median 10/9).
avian
information
2017-10-08Le Sueur10/8 Le Sueur (first fall record)
High count 9/26 Blue Earth (3) BHW. Late north 10/1 St. Louis (dark juvenile, H.R.N.R.) AxM, 10/4 St. Louis BMu, (dark juvenile) H.R.B.O., 10/13 Becker ShG, HeH (median 9/28). Late south 10/7 Blue Earth BHW, 10/8 Le Sueur (2) ebd, 10/13 Brown MiO (median 10/9).
avian
information
2017-12-03McLeod12/3 McLeod (fourth winter record)
First winter record for the state: 12/3 McLeod (light morph adult, Bergen twp.) ph. BDe, ph. †GAn.
avian
information
2018-06-07Sibley6/7 Sibley (first summer record)
Observed in all western regions plus Brown, Kandiyohi, Mower, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Washington.
avian
information
2018-06-29Roseau6/29 Roseau (third summer record)
Observed in all western regions plus Brown, Kandiyohi, Mower, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Washington.
avian
information
2019-06-22Hennepin6/22 Hennepin (second summer record)
 Seen west and south of a line from Marshall to Dakota to Mower.
avian
information
2019-09-12Pine9/12 Pine (first fall record)
High count 9/22 Blue Earth (3) BHW. Late north 9/12 Pine KrM, 9/23 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 9/27 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 10/5 Pipestone VKl, 10/7 Blue Earth (2) BHW, 10/11 Blue Earth BHW (median 10/6).
avian
information
2020-06-15Winona6/15 Winona (first summer record)
 Seen in all western and southern regions.
avian
information
2020-08-01Freeborn8/1 Freeborn (first fall record)
High count 9/16 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/2 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/8 Norman SDz, 10/16 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 9/27 Blue Earth (2) BHW, ChH, 9/28 Blue Earth (3) BHW, 10/2 Lyon RJS (median 10/6).
avian
information
2020-08-18McLeod8/18 McLeod (fifth fall record)
High count 9/16 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/2 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/8 Norman SDz, 10/16 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 9/27 Blue Earth (2) BHW, ChH, 9/28 Blue Earth (3) BHW, 10/2 Lyon RJS (median 10/6).
avian
information
2020-08-29Wabasha8/29 Wabasha (second fall record)
High count 9/16 St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/2 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/8 Norman SDz, 10/16 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/28). Late south 9/27 Blue Earth (2) BHW, ChH, 9/28 Blue Earth (3) BHW, 10/2 Lyon RJS (median 10/6).
avian
information
2022-06-18Stearns6/18 Stearns (third summer record)
Observed in all western regions plus Mille Lacs, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Winona.
avian
information
2022-06-262022-07-24Winona6/26, 7/11, 17, 24 Winona (second summer record)
Observed in all western regions plus Mille Lacs, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Winona.
avian
information
2022-07-08Mille Lacs7/8 Mille Lacs (first summer record)
Observed in all western regions plus Mille Lacs, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Winona.
avian
information
2022-08-14Dodge8/14 Dodge (first fall record)
Late north 9/13 St. Louis (max. 2, three locations but possibly the same birds) StK, SeM, ClN, m.ob., 9/20 St. Louis (Forest Hill) JLK, 10/4 Polk ebd (median 9/29). Late south 10/1 Nobles KEm, 10/2 Olmsted ebd, 10/4 Blue Earth (4, season high count) BHW (median 10/9).
avian
information
2022-09-07Wright9/7 Wright (first county record)
Late north 9/13 St. Louis (max. 2, three locations but possibly the same birds) StK, SeM, ClN, m.ob., 9/20 St. Louis (Forest Hill) JLK, 10/4 Polk ebd (median 9/29). Late south 10/1 Nobles KEm, 10/2 Olmsted ebd, 10/4 Blue Earth (4, season high count) BHW (median 10/9).
avian
information
2022-09-19Sherburne9/19 Sherburne (third county record)
Late north 9/13 St. Louis (max. 2, three locations but possibly the same birds) StK, SeM, ClN, m.ob., 9/20 St. Louis (Forest Hill) JLK, 10/4 Polk ebd (median 9/29). Late south 10/1 Nobles KEm, 10/2 Olmsted ebd, 10/4 Blue Earth (4, season high count) BHW (median 10/9).
avian
information
2023-04-24Itasca4/24 Itasca (first county record)
Early south (median 4/6) 3/7 Le Sueur CZi, 4/6 Dakota CRe, 4/9 Pipestone (2) LVD. All north 4/13–15 Clay (max. 2, several locations) TkL, m.ob., 4/14 Wilkin CMk, ebd, 4/15 Grant SC. High counts 4/10 Lac qui Parle (15, Salt Lake) DlS, ASu, 4/15 Steele (3, Owatonna) DAB. New county record: 4/24 Itasca (Cohasset) HTo.
avian
information
2023-06-242023-07-15Winona6/24, 7/9, 15 Winona (third summer record)
avian
information
2023-07-26Stearns7/26 Stearns (fourth summer record)
avian
information
2023-08-05Freeborn8/5 Freeborn (second fall record)
avian
information
2023-09-03Nicollet9/3 Nicollet (fourth fall record)
avian
information
2023-09-08Cook9/8 Cook (first fall record)
avian
information
2023-09-25Scott9/25 Scott (second fall record)
78:2322006indexA Swainson's Hawk Nest in Dakota County
 
 Breeds south and west. Migrant throughout, but rare north-central and northeast.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
Sighting records for ()
Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander