This is a blackhawk that I saw soaring over the hills this afternoon. These birds are similar in size to turkey vultures. Blackhawks mostly have the same underside markings as the vultures, giving them some advantage in catching their prey. Vultures are numerous and almost always overhead looking for carrion. Small birds and animals have nothing to fear from vultures, which only scavenge dead critters. If the live critter sees a blackhawk, it could mistake it for a turkey vulture, therefore giving the bird of prey an advantage.
