Follow the adventures of Pale Male, a daring red-tailed hawk who manages to thrive in the urban world of New York City.
A fearsome predator has been stalking Manhattan for years. But instead of calling the police, New Yorkers have put out the welcome mat and wished him the best of luck. Meet Pale Male — a red-tailed hawk who chose life in the Big Apple and founded a hawk dynasty on the ledge of a swanky high-rise overlooking Central Park.
New York’s bridges and high-rises have long been known to occasionally harbor peregrine falcons on their upper ledges and steel towers. But the presence of a red-tailed hawk launching into majestic flight from a Fifth Avenue apartment building to search for prey in the skies over Central Park created a local sensation when first noted in the early 1990s. Pale Male, as he soon was known, quickly became a cause célèbre, first among local residents, then New Yorkers in general, attracting the interest of naturalists, photographers, and journalists.
Long before sunrise, throngs of spectators gathered in the park with binoculars and telescopes to watch Pale Male on his ledge and wait for him to start his day. It was assumed to be a fleeting opportunity to observe the rare phenomenon of a red-tailed hawk experimenting with life in the big city.
But improbably, the winged hero of this story had found a permanent home amidst the bustle of human civilization. In the months and years that followed, he became the main character in an unfolding drama — mating, raising chicks on a precarious perch and defending them against marauding crows, teaching his offspring survival skills in a semi-natural environment, losing his mate and finding another, and, almost miraculously, guiding a multi-generation family that could withstand intimate proximity with people.
UPDATE: Pale Male’s fame and family have continued to grow since the making of this film. For current photos and information, please visit http://www.palemale.com and http://www.mariewinn.com
To order a copy of Pale Male, please visit the NATURE Shop.
Online content for Pale Male was originally posted May 2004.
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Thank you for your wonderful photos taken yesterday in
Central Park. We continue to be fans of Pale Male and
the hawks of Central Park.
I saw the hawk while sitting in Central Park in Oct. The cameras that are there permanently were aimed at the apartment bu8ilding where his nest is. I hear his call (screech) and looked up and he was circling the apartment building as if it were a tree. He was behaving as if the buildings were trees. It was so interesting. He was adapted to the the true urban environment, there were no obstacles to his natural routines.
I have been following the joys and sadness of Pale Male for years. I live in South Africa and my friend, who works at the American Museum of Natural History, gave me the DVD in 2002. Since then I have been showing it to so many people.
I will be visiting Manhattan between 8 and 11 July 2009 and would like to join your specail group to say hello to Pale Male myself. Could you please tell me where you gather and at what time it will be the best to see this wonderful bird.
Thanks
Saskia
[...] and fortunate that they happen to be a nesting pair. They have gained a following, much as Pale Male, the red tail hawk living just outside of Central Park, the public gathers each year in hopes of [...]
On April 21st, 2009 my husband, daughter and I visited Central Park and were quite surprised to watch a bird of prey taking a bath in a puddle after monday´s rain. It did not take notice of our watching it at a distance of 5 meters. It was probably one of last year´s chicks – a bit loose in its feathers. During a visit to a book shop I found the book about Pale Male and was happy to read the story about your hawk family. Dot Brenoe, biologist from Denmark
i just him outside my balcony, he wasn’t afraid of me, i almost touched him and took several pictures…
I will be in New York the 7th to the 13th, when is the best time to see and take pics of Pale Male?
Hello Lincolin this is the young lady who engaged in conversation with you at my visit to central park on 05-12-09.It was a pleasure to speak with you and seeing your concern for animals keep up the good work there is a higher power who watches over us this is a gift and talent you have from god may he continue to bless you keep up the good work.oh!just a reminder I don’t think i’ll be making that trip to trini.(smile)
Hello, I bought the story book of Pale Male and Lola for my granddaughter age 5 1/2.She lives in Ithaca NY and is coming to see Grandmama (me) on Oct 2 and 3. 2009. Now more than anything she wants to “see” the birds.Is there a way of not to disappoint her? Short of crashing the building what possibilities are there to observe them or their offsprings? How do other parents- grandparents handle this? Any idea is greatly appreciated.
Thank you ever so much
Eva Foreman
I saw him this a.m. (9/23/09) getting pestered by some jays at around 100th street on the East side of the park. He’s HUGE. Hanging around the fallen logs from the storm.