Coupled with the fact that he exhibited rather un-raptorly behavior ( such as flying up and landing right next to a photographer, and started "calling" to the photographer) No matter how close I got to him, he would not spook or fly away, he just stared with increasing curiosity.
(of course he could have been thinking "how am I going to go about attacking and eating this big old thing")
The photos were posted and passed around trying to figure out what could be wrong with this little guy, and a few people went half insane trying to figure it out, if he was hurt, he needed to be captured and taken to a raptor rehabilitor.
But it turns out the joke was on us, and the hawk was just fine!
The protrusion in his chest, is nothing other than his right foot!!! Young Red-Shouldered Hawks will draw their foot and leg up into their warm feathers when it is very cold outside, and switch which foot is exposed to the cold air!
Now, I have seen this behavior exhibited in all manners of Cranes and Herons, ducks and geese, and of course Flamingo's (since we have such an abundance of those around here), however I had never witnessed such behavior in a raptor. I had seen them squat down in the could to cover their feet, but never do a leg lift and tuck!
So thanks to those who helped to slove this little mystery!
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