Farewell Pale Male, Legendary Hawk with a Fifth Avenue Address

Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk who feathered his nest on Fifth  Avenue, has died. He was about 33 years of age and leaves behind his  significant other, Octavia.

Pale Male was found fluttering weakly on the ground in Central Park across the avenue from his fancy digs.

Wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath posted the news on Facebook.

“Our vet reported the blood results came back revealing severe renal failure likely due to age,” Horvath wrote. “Pale Male was the inspiration for thousands not only in New York City but worldwide to begin birding or photography.”

Pale Male – so named because of his light colored plumage – was the celebrity bird in New York, long before Flaco and Barry flew into view. He made himself at home in 1993 on the facade 927 Fifth Avenue, where he lived happily, peacefully for ten years enjoying his personal very rare version of ratatouille before the finicky  board ripped away his nest, which he had been sharing at the time with a female named Lola. 

The resultant public outcry – including from co-op residents like Mary Tyler Moore – forced the board to replace the nest. “I can’t imagine what went through their minds,” the actress said at the time, “certainly nothing went through their hearts.” (Good line!) 

The chastened board installed a row of anti-pigeon spikes where the hawks anchored their nest, and even added a metal cradle on the ledge. Pale Male and Lola couldn’t resist the swank address, so they rebuilt. (Mere mortals should know this is a very selective condo: a 6-bedroom is currently on offer for $28,550,00, with the monthly maintenance at $21,775). 

The hawk became a worldwide celebrity, and was featured in two films, including the 20o9 documentary The Legend of Pale Male. (Watch the trailer here.) He was also the subject of at least three children’s books  and is cited in country singer Steve Earle’s song "Down Here Below." 

The famous bird's long life is one of the longest ever recorded for a red-tailed hawk. And it was a fruitful life, as Pale Male got busy with many mates including Lola, Chocolate, Blue, Lima and Octavia. Pale Male is gone but his genetics live on in many, many offspring. As the Associated Press put it, “He is survived by an unknown number of descendants.”

Photo credit: IMDb