Thanks to all of you who offered condolences and theories on the death of
one of my local sub-adult Red-Shouldered Hawks. While it seems obvious that
the bird crashed into my bedroom window, the two details that didn't seem to
fit were the extent of snake remains on the window ledge and the nickel-size
puncture wound in the bird's chest. The most reasonable explanation seems
to be that the bird was shot and tried to gain purchase on the windowsill,
snake in beak. (By the way, the snake was apparently a garter, not a
poisonous one.) An interesting alternative theory, posited by my husband,
is that he hit the window with head down and his beak punctured his own
chest! Double whammy!
Good birding,
Mary Ann Good
