WATCH: Curious hawk hangs out with traffic camera in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic camera recently caught a majestic sight in the Twin Cities.
The curious hawk can be seen perching in front of the camera, which oversees traffic on Interstate 94 near Portland Avenue in Minneapolis.
"Talk about a bird's eye view," MnDOT said Tuesday in a social media post.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources responded to the post, confirming that the bird is a red-tailed hawk. The birds are found throughout the state, but will migrate to southern states in the fall. Their primary source of food is rodents.
"The red-tailed hawk has a sharp, curved beak that's used to tear its prey into pieces for eating. The bird has great eyesight, which helps it see prey on the ground while its flying high overhead," the DNR writes on its website.
The DNR says the red-tailed hawk is thriving in Minnesota due to the state's high rodent population. However, they are not game animals who can be hunted, so anyone who kills this hawk will be subject to a large fine.