Hopper

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

This Swainson’s Hawk was admitted to RMRP in August of 2020 as a hatch-year bird that had suffered a broken left ulna (forearm in humans), a nasty wound inside his mouth, plus he had contracted West Nile Virus. Yikes!

He fought bravely through West Nile Virus and his injuries healed, however his wing didn’t heal well enough for him to fly. It was determined he was not able to be returned to the wild.

After being transferred from our Rehabilitation Department to our Education Department, this young Swainson’s Hawk began his training as an Educational Ambassador. The best description of this hawk is spicy! After all that he had gone through and overcame in rehabilitation, his training to become an education ambassador has been slow but steady, and he makes appearance on-site at our facility.

His name “Hopper” comes from the natural history of Swainson’s Hawks and their penchant for eating grasshoppers! In fact, they migrate from North America to Patagonia every year to follow the grasshopper migrations!

Sponsor Hopper