15 Types of Hawks in North America (with Pictures and ID Guide)

North America supports a diverse group of hawks, with 15 species regularly occurring across the United States and Canada. Most fall into two broad groups: buteos, which are broad-winged, soaring hawks often seen circling high over open landscapes, and accipiters, slimmer, long-tailed forest hawks built for fast, agile flight through trees. A few additional species represent other buteonine or Neotropical lineages, reflecting different evolutionary histories and hunting strategies.

This ID guide begins with the most widespread and familiar hawks of open country and forest edges, then moves toward the more localized, habitat-restricted, or regionally rare species. Each entry provides field-ready identification notes, including key plumage traits, flight style, behavior, and vocalizations, along with concise information on habitat use and geographic range. Where relevant, color morphs and plumage variation are described, with emphasis on features most useful for recognizing each species within its North American range.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

• Identification: Large, stout-bodied buteo with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail; many adults show a reddish upper tail and dark marks along the leading edge of the underwing.
• Where found: Widespread across the United States and Canada in open country with nearby trees or other elevated perches, from farmland and grasslands to woodland edges and suburban landscapes.
• How to spot: Scan roadsides for a broad-winged hawk perched on poles, fence posts, or isolated trees, or watch for slow, circling soaring over fields; listen for its hoarse, rising-and-falling scream.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations considered secure in North America overall, with mixed regional signals in long-term monitoring and local sensitivity to large-scale habitat shifts and drought.

The red-tailed hawk is probably the most familiar large hawk across North America, and for many casual birders it is the first raptor spotted on a long drive. This species measures 45 to 65 centimeters (17.7 to 25.6 inches) in length and has a stout body, broad wings, and classic buteo proportions, including wide, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Females average larger than males, but the sexes look alike in plumage, and the overall impression is of a powerful, thick-chested hawk built for soaring and perch hunting.

Plumage is famously variable, but many adults across most of the continent can be picked out by a reddish upper tail with a narrow darker band near the tip, especially when seen from above. Light-morph birds are typically brown above and paler below, often with darker streaking across the belly and a darker band along the trailing edge of the underwing; many also show darker, rectangular markings along the leading edge of the underwing that help separate them from similar buteos. Dark-morph birds are much deeper brown overall, and some regional forms can be especially dark or unusually pale, which can complicate identification. Juveniles lack the adult’s typical red upper tail and instead show a paler brown tail with multiple narrow dark bands.

In the field, red-tailed hawks are often found by their behavior as much as their markings. They commonly hunt from elevated perches, sitting upright on utility poles, wires, fence posts, or prominent trees while watching for movement below, then dropping in a controlled dive to seize prey. When flying, their wingbeats are typically slow and heavy, and they frequently soar in broad circles on thermals or hillside updrafts; in strong winds they may “kite,” facing into the wind and holding position with little or no flapping. Their most familiar voice is a hoarse, two- to three-second scream often rendered as “kee-eeee-arrr,” given frequently by soaring birds and also from perches, especially during agitation or territorial encounters. Prey includes small to medium-sized mammals such as rodents and rabbits, along with birds and reptiles, and individuals may also walk awkwardly on the ground while feeding on larger items.

This species breeds across a vast swath of North America, from southern coastal and central Alaska across Canada and much of the United States, extending south through Mexico into Central America and beyond. It uses a wide variety of landscapes but is most strongly associated with open areas interspersed with woodland or other elevated structures that provide secure perches and nest sites. It is generally scarce or absent where terrain is either largely treeless over broad expanses or heavily forested without openings, and it can be patchy in hot deserts unless suitable elevated sites are available. In winter, many individuals from northern latitudes move south, so red-tailed hawks are often more numerous across much of the continent during the colder months, even in areas where residents remain year-round.

Across North America, red-tailed hawks are considered secure and have proven able to thrive in the patchily wooded, open landscapes created by agriculture and expanding towns when prey is available. Over the past century, the species expanded in many regions in ways linked to broad habitat change, benefiting where forests became more fragmented or where formerly open habitats developed more woody edges. At the same time, numbers can be expected to decline where that mixed patchwork is replaced by extensive unbroken forest or by very large treeless stretches, and some regional indices suggest recent stabilization or slight declines after decades of increase. In parts of the West, recent changes in conditions such as widespread drought have also been associated with slowing growth or localized declines, underscoring how strongly this common hawk still tracks prey and landscape structure.

Cooper’s Hawk

Astur cooperii

• Identification: Medium-sized accipiter with broad, rounded wings and a long, rounded tail; adults are blue-gray above with rufous barring below, while juveniles are brown above with crisp brown streaking on whitish underparts.
• Where found: Widespread across the United States and southern Canada in wooded habitats, from forests and edges to leafy suburbs and backyards.
• How to spot: Watch for a stealthy woodland hawk flying with a flap-flap-glide pattern or cutting low through trees in pursuit of birds; listen near nests for repeated, sharp “cak-cak-cak” alarm calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations have recovered strongly and are generally thriving, especially in human-altered landscapes, though local risks include loss of suitable woodlots and collisions in urban areas.

The Cooper’s hawk is one of the most likely “bird-feeder hawks” across much of North America, a common but often unnoticed predator that has adapted well to suburbs and even city neighborhoods. It measures 37 to 45 centimeters (14.6 to 17.7 inches) in length and has the classic accipiter build, with short, rounded wings and a long, rounded tail built for fast turns through cluttered canopy. Males are distinctly smaller than females, and at a distance its broad shoulders and relatively large-looking head can help separate it from the similar sharp-shinned hawk.

Adults show a clean, contrasting pattern that is best appreciated in good light. Upperparts are blue-gray to grayish brown, with many males appearing more crisply blue-gray and more strongly contrasted than females. Underparts are white with broad, warm rufous barring, and the undertail coverts are plain white. The tail is darkly banded and typically tipped with white in fresh plumage, and the head can look distinctly capped, with a dark crown that contrasts with a paler nape. Juveniles are brown above and whitish below with well-defined brown streaking concentrated on the breast and upper belly, often giving a more “hooded” impression than the blurrier, more diffuse streaking typical of young sharp-shinned hawks.

Field identification often hinges on structure and behavior as much as plumage. Cooper’s hawks frequently fly with several quick, stiff wingbeats followed by a short glide, a flap-flap-glide rhythm that is typical of accipiters and especially noticeable along forest edges or across open gaps. When hunting, they may course low and fast, using trees, shrubs, and even buildings as cover before accelerating in a sudden burst to overtake prey, and they can be astonishingly maneuverable inside the canopy. Their most familiar voice around nests is a rapid, repeated “cak-cak-cak” alarm call, and males also give short “kik” notes during display flights and when signaling their presence near the nest. The diet is dominated by live, ground- and shrub-foraging birds, especially small to medium-sized songbirds and doves, with small mammals and lizards taken secondarily in some areas.

This species breeds widely across the conterminous United States and southern Canada, extending farther north in some western provinces, and it also nests in parts of Mexico at middle to higher elevations. It occupies wooded habitats ranging from mature forest to fragmented woodlots and leafy residential areas, and its expansion into urban and suburban settings has been especially notable in recent decades. Many individuals overwinter close to breeding areas, while birds from roughly the northern portion of the range tend to migrate south, making the species a regular migrant and winter presence across much of the United States. Nesting typically occurs in wooded areas where pairs can place a stick nest within trees and hunt efficiently along edges, clearings, and neighborhood green spaces.

Cooper’s hawks are now widely considered a conservation success story in North America, having rebounded strongly after earlier declines linked to direct persecution and pesticides. Current monitoring indicates generally stable or increasing populations, aided by the species’ ability to exploit human-altered landscapes where prey such as doves and other common birds are abundant. Even so, local pressures remain, especially where suitable breeding woodlots are removed or fragmented. In towns and cities, collisions with human-made structures are a recurring source of mortality, reflecting the risks that come with living close to people.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

• Identification: Medium-sized buteo with broad, rounded wings, a relatively long, strongly banded tail, and richly reddish barred underparts; in flight, adults show pale translucent crescents near the wingtips.
• Where found: Widespread in the eastern United States and southern Canada, with a separate population along the Pacific Coast; favors wooded landscapes, especially near rivers, swamps, and wetlands.
• How to spot: Listen for its clear, whistled “kee-aah” calls in wet forests, or watch for a boldly patterned hawk soaring over woods with pale crescents flashing in the wings.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations have increased in many regions, though ongoing loss and fragmentation of wooded wetlands remain key threats.

The red-shouldered hawk is one of the most distinctive and easily recognized forest hawks in North America, closely associated with tall woods and water. The species measures 43 to 61 centimeters (16.9 to 24.0 inches) in length and is a medium-sized buteo with broad wings and a tail that is relatively long for this group. Females are larger than males, but the sexes look alike in the field. Its bold plumage, frequent vocalizations, and preference for wooded wetlands make it a familiar presence in many eastern landscapes and along parts of the Pacific Coast.

Adult red-shouldered hawks are strikingly patterned. The underparts are densely barred with rich rufous to reddish tones, contrasting with a darker head and upperparts. The upperwing coverts are often tinged rusty red, and the tail shows several wide dark bands separated by narrower pale bars, ending in a white tip. In flight, the wings appear two-toned below, with rufous underwing coverts set against black-and-white barred flight feathers, and adults show pale, translucent crescent-shaped “windows” near the base of the primaries. Juveniles are browner overall, with pale underparts streaked with brown and a darker tail marked by multiple narrow bars; their wing crescents are present but appear more tawny than white.

In the field, red-shouldered hawks are often detected by voice before they are seen. Their most familiar call is a ringing, whistled “kee-aah,” usually repeated in series and frequently heard in early spring as birds announce territories. They soar with wings held flat, circling above forested areas, and when gliding often hold the wings slightly bowed with the wrists raised, creating a distinctive posture. While hunting, they typically perch within the forest canopy and drop onto prey below, but they may also fly low and directly through trees or across openings. Their diet is varied and reflects their wet-forest habitat, including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally birds and invertebrates such as crayfish.

In North America, the species occurs in two main populations. The eastern population ranges from southern Canada, including parts of Ontario and the Maritime provinces, south through the eastern United States to Florida, the Gulf Coast, and eastern Mexico. Most eastern birds are resident, with only the northernmost populations migrating short distances south in winter. A separate western population breeds along the Pacific Coast from northern California south into Baja California and has expanded northward into Oregon and eastward in parts of California and the Southwest. Across both regions, red-shouldered hawks are strongly tied to deciduous or mixed forests near water, such as river corridors, swamps, and floodplain woods, where they place stick nests high in large trees.

Red-shouldered hawks are currently common and increasing across much of their range, reflecting successful recovery after earlier declines linked to habitat loss and human disturbance. Long-term monitoring indicates positive trends in many regions, particularly where mature woodland and wetland habitats remain intact. Nevertheless, continued clearing and fragmentation of forested wetlands pose ongoing challenges, especially in rapidly developing areas. Where suitable wooded landscapes persist, this vocal and colorful hawk remains a characteristic and enduring feature of North American forest ecosystems.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

• Identification: Small, short-winged accipiter with a long, often square-tipped tail and long, thin yellow legs; adults are blue-gray above with rufous barring below, while juveniles are brown above with bold brown streaking on pale underparts.
• Where found: Breeds mainly in dense forests across much of Canada and the northern United States and winters widely across the United States and into Middle America, often along forest edges and in areas with tree cover.
• How to spot: Most often noticed during fall migration at hawkwatches or as a sudden, fast-moving hawk with a flap-and-glide flight style crossing openings; small birds often erupt in alarm when it appears near feeders.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are generally considered stable after recovering from the DDT era, though monitoring is difficult because the species is extremely secretive on breeding grounds.

The sharp-shinned hawk is the smallest accipiter in North America and one of the most acrobatic aerial predators of the forest. It measures only 24 to 34 centimeters (9.4 to 13.4 inches) in length and has short, rounded wings and a very long tail that help it twist through dense vegetation at speed. Females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, but both sexes share the same overall structure: a slim-bodied hawk with a relatively small head and long, thin legs adapted for snatching small prey in tight spaces.

Adults are slaty blue-gray above with a slightly darker crown and clean white underparts marked by rufous to tawny barring across the breast, belly, and flanks. The tail shows several broad dark bands and is narrowly tipped pale, usually looking square when folded and sometimes showing a slight notch at the tip; when spread, it can appear subtly rounded. Wings appear dark above but pale below, with the flight feathers distinctly barred. The eyes are red in adults, and the cere and feet are bright yellow. Juveniles are dark brown above and pale below with bold brown to reddish-brown streaking, often with a more prominent pale eyebrow, and their eyes are pale yellow.

In the field, sharp-shinned hawks are frequently encountered as a sudden blur of motion, appearing briefly and vanishing just as quickly. Their typical flight is an accipiter rhythm of several quick wingbeats followed by a short glide, with crisper, more rapid wingbeats than a Cooper’s hawk. When hunting, they rely on surprise and speed, darting through woods or along edges and using the long tail as a rudder to change direction as they pursue prey; they do not typically attack with a high, falcon-like stoop. Vocalizations are not often heard away from the breeding season, but alarm calls can include sharp, repeated notes given most often near nests. The diet is strongly dominated by small birds, especially songbirds, taken from cover with short chases or sudden bursts, though small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects may also be eaten.

This species is closely tied to forest structure in North America. It breeds across large areas of Alaska and Canada and into suitable forested regions of the northern United States, where it is often associated with extensive, contiguous woodlands and dense canopies. It is notably difficult to detect during the breeding season because it spends much of its time under forest cover, only occasionally emerging to circle or cross open areas. Many northern populations migrate south in autumn, and wintering birds occur broadly across the United States, with concentrations in the Southeast, while some individuals also winter farther north and along coasts, forest edges, and wooded habitats with abundant small birds.

Sharp-shinned hawks are not considered globally threatened and are generally regarded as stable in much of North America, with recovery following declines during the decades when DDT was in use. Despite this, assessing trends is challenging because breeding birds are solitary and elusive in dense forests, so migration counts often provide the clearest long-term window into their status. The species remains tied to the health of wooded landscapes and to the availability of small bird prey, and it continues to be shaped by both forest conditions and the hazards that affect many raptors.

Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

• Identification: Small, compact buteo with broad wings, a short tail marked by bold black-and-white bands, and adults showing warm rufous barring below; rare dark-morph birds are uniformly sooty brown.
• Where found: Breeds mainly in deciduous and mixed forests of eastern North America and southern Canada, with a separate Pacific and southwestern presence; winters far south of the United States in Middle and South America, with a small wintering presence in southern Florida.
• How to spot: Easiest to see during migration, when it forms large circling “kettles” over ridges and coastlines; in summer, listen for a piercing two-parted whistle above forest canopies.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are generally stable or increasing in North America, though loss of large forest tracts and habitat destruction on wintering grounds remain key concerns.

The broad-winged hawk is best known for one of the most spectacular migration events in North America, when vast numbers funnel southward in swirling flocks each autumn. The species measures 34 to 44 centimeters (13.4 to 17.3 inches) in length and is the smallest buteo on the continent, with a stocky body, a relatively large head, and broad wings suited for soaring. Females are slightly larger and heavier than males, but the sexes appear similar in the field, and outside of migration this species can be surprisingly inconspicuous within forest interiors.

Adult broad-winged hawks of the common light morph show brown upperparts and underparts barred with cinnamon to chestnut, set off by a whitish throat. The tail is black with a prominent broad pale band across the middle and narrower pale bands near the base and tip, a pattern that is often visible even at a distance. In flight, adults show a dark band along the trailing edge of the wing and pale underwings contrasting with darker wing margins. A rare dark morph occurs primarily in the western and northwestern portions of the range; these birds are uniformly dark sooty brown, though the pale tail bands remain visible. Juveniles are paler overall, with whitish underparts streaked brown and a buffy tail crossed by narrow dark bands.

In the field, broad-winged hawks are often detected by voice or by their distinctive migration behavior. Their characteristic call is a high-pitched, two-parted whistle often rendered as “pee-eee” or “kee-eee,” given from the nest area or while circling above forest canopy. During the breeding season they frequently soar in slow circles above wooded territory, while foraging birds typically hunt from perches below the canopy near forest edges or openings. Prey is taken by dropping down in a quick swoop rather than by prolonged pursuit, and the diet is broad, including amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, insects, and nestling birds, reflecting their strong association with moist forest habitats.

In North America, broad-winged hawks breed primarily in extensive deciduous or mixed forests east of the Great Plains, from southern Canada through the eastern United States and into parts of the Gulf Coast. They are largely absent from the Rocky Mountains and far western regions, except for scattered or localized occurrences, while a separate western population occupies parts of the Pacific Coast from northern California southward. During the non-breeding season, most individuals migrate long distances to winter in Middle America and northern South America, making this one of the continent’s most strongly migratory raptors. A small number, mostly juveniles, regularly winter in southern Florida, particularly the Keys.

Overall, broad-winged hawks remain numerous and widespread, and long-term monitoring indicates generally stable or increasing trends in many parts of their North American range. Their reliance on large, intact forest blocks for breeding makes them sensitive to continued fragmentation and development, particularly in the eastern United States and southern Canada. Additional pressures occur on the wintering grounds, where habitat destruction and human persecution still affect some populations. Despite these challenges, the species continues to be a defining presence of forest ecosystems and one of the most dramatic migrants in the Western Hemisphere.

Rough-Legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

• Identification: Large buteo with relatively long, narrow wings, a long tail, and feathered legs; light morphs often show dark carpal patches and a bold dark tail band.
• Where found: Breeds across Arctic tundra and taiga in Alaska and northern Canada; winters mainly in open country across southern Canada and much of the United States.
• How to spot: Look for a slow-flying hawk that frequently hovers into the wind over fields or marshes and soars with wings held in a slight dihedral; it is often seen perched on poles, fence posts, or even the tops of slender trees.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations appear generally stable but can fluctuate with rodent cycles and severe northern weather, with winter mortality including vehicle strikes and other human-related hazards.

The rough-legged hawk is North America’s classic winter buteo of wide-open country, best known for appearing in southern Canada and the United States when most of its breeding range is locked in Arctic conditions. It measures 45 to 63 centimeters (17.7 to 24.8 inches) in length and is a large, chunky hawk with relatively long wings and a longer tail than many similar buteos, plus a proportionately small bill and feet. Females average larger and heavier than males, and the species’ feathered legs – down to the toes, are a distinctive structural trait that matches its cold-climate lifestyle.

Plumage is highly variable, ranging from very pale light morphs to extremely dark birds, but most individuals can still be recognized by bold contrasts in the wings and tail. Light-morph adults typically show pale underwings with a conspicuous, squarish dark patch at the bend of the wing and a broad dark trailing margin to the flight feathers; the tail is usually pale with a broad dark band near the tip. Adult males often look more evenly patterned across the underparts, while adult females typically show heavier markings on the belly, often forming a dark belly patch or belly band, and the tail pattern tends to be simpler. Dark-morph birds are largely dark brown overall but usually retain some pale areas in the flight feathers or tail, and juveniles resemble females most closely, with a browner tail and generally less sharply defined underwing contrast.

In the field, rough-legged hawks are especially identifiable by flight style and hunting behavior. They often fly slowly and low over open ground with flexible wingbeats, alternating flapping and gliding, and they commonly soar with wings raised in a shallow V-shape. A signature behavior is hovering or “kiting” into the wind while scanning for prey, sometimes dropping the legs before pouncing or plunging down onto a target; this hovering tends to be longer and more habitual than in many other North American buteos, particularly in landscapes with few perches. Away from breeding areas they are usually quiet, but near nests they can give a loud, drawn-out, mewing, descending scream. Their diet is dominated by small mammals, especially lemmings and voles on the breeding grounds and voles, mice, and shrews in winter, with birds taken more often when rodents are scarce; hunting is done from the air or from perches such as posts, rocks, utility poles, and fence lines.

This is a true Arctic breeder with an extensive northern range. In North America it nests across Alaska and far northern Canada, including the Canadian Arctic islands, and it also breeds in tundra and alpine regions where open terrain meets suitable nesting sites such as bluffs and slopes. Because it breeds so far north, most birders in the United States and southern Canada encounter it mainly in winter, when it moves south into open habitats such as grasslands, cultivated and abandoned fields, wetlands and wet meadows, shrub-steppe, and other broad landscapes where small mammals are accessible. Wintering birds occur from southern Canada through much of the United States, reaching regions such as California, the Southwest, and parts of the southern Plains, with numbers and local concentrations shifting from year to year.

Across its Holarctic range, the rough-legged hawk is not considered threatened and remains widespread and fairly common, particularly in the remote northern landscapes where it breeds. In North America, numbers can fluctuate markedly from year to year, closely tracking cycles in rodent abundance and the severity of weather on the Arctic breeding grounds. Mortality is more pronounced during winter, when individuals are vulnerable to vehicle strikes while feeding on road-killed animals, electrocution from power infrastructure, accidental capture in traps, and, despite long-standing legal protection, occasional shooting. The species’ continued presence in winter landscapes across southern Canada and the United States depends on the availability of open habitats, healthy prey populations, and the reduction of avoidable human-caused threats.

Swainson’s Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

• Identification: Medium-large buteo with a slimmer body, longer and more tapered wings than most buteos, and a grayish, narrowly banded tail; many light birds show a dark chest “bib” and strong contrast between pale wing linings and dark flight feathers.
• Where found: Breeds mainly across open country of western and central North America, from the Canadian Prairies through much of the western United States, and migrates to wintering areas chiefly in southern South America.
• How to spot: Watch for a buoyant soaring hawk holding the wings in a shallow “V,” often perched conspicuously on poles or fence posts in open landscapes; during migration, look for large “kettles” of soaring birds over open country.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); overall trends are generally favorable in broad monitoring, but the species remains regionally reduced in parts of the West, with habitat change on breeding and wintering grounds and pesticide-related threats as key concerns.

The Swainson’s hawk is one of North America’s most remarkable long-distance migrants, with nearly the entire breeding population traveling from the temperate zone to South America each year. The species measures 48 to 56 centimeters (18.9 to 22.0 inches) in length and is a fairly large buteo, yet it often looks noticeably slimmer and longer-winged than similar hawks in open country. The body is thinner, the wings are narrower and more tapered, and perched birds show long wing tips that reach to or barely exceed the tip of the tail. Females average larger and heavier than males, but the sexes are similar in plumage, and the species occurs in multiple color morphs from light to very dark.

Most Swainson’s hawks seen in North America are pale below with a distinct dark or reddish-brown chest band that can look like a “bib” between a lighter throat and belly. Upperparts tend to appear fairly even in tone compared with many other buteos, and the tail is grayish to grayish brown with numerous narrow dark bands, the subterminal band usually the widest. In flight, pale wing linings contrast strongly with darker flight feathers on many light and intermediate birds, producing a crisp underwing pattern. Dark birds reduce this contrast and can appear nearly uniform dark brown to blackish on the body, though the tail pattern remains similar. Juveniles show the same basic underwing pattern as adults of their morph but are typically more streaked below, with heavier spotting across the breast and often onto the belly.

Field identification is strongly aided by the hawk’s behavior and flight style. It has a strong, buoyant, graceful flight and typically soars with the wingtips raised in a shallow dihedral, reminiscent of a turkey vulture’s profile. It relies heavily on thermals in migration and can gather in very large “kettles” as it travels, sometimes in flocks numbering in the thousands. When foraging on the breeding grounds, it often courses low over prairie or hunts from perches such as poles, posts, trees, rocks, and elevated ground; it also regularly drops to the ground to pursue insects, running quickly with wings slightly raised and occasionally leaping or flapping to flush prey. The species eats a wide range of prey, including rodents and other small vertebrates, but it also takes many invertebrates, especially insects such as grasshoppers and dragonflies. Vocalizations include a high, shrill, plaintive scream often given near nests or during intrusions, along with other calls used in disputes and courtship.

The species breeds primarily in open grasslands, shrub-steppe, and agricultural landscapes, especially across the western and central United States and the Canadian Prairies. Breeding extends north into parts of Washington and Oregon east of the Cascades, southern Idaho and Montana, and across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and into southwestern Manitoba, with smaller breeding pockets in interior valleys of British Columbia such as the Okanagan and Thompson regions. The breeding range continues south through much of the interior West and Great Plains, reaching into the Southwest and into northern Mexico, and east into parts of the central states where suitable open country persists. Nests are placed in trees where available, including isolated trees in otherwise treeless landscapes, making breeding pairs conspicuous in wide-open country. After the breeding season, birds depart en masse on a long migration to wintering areas concentrated on the pampas of southern South America.

Swainson’s hawks remain a widespread species of open country, and broad monitoring indicates overall populations have increased in recent decades. At the same time, the species has been reduced in numbers or distribution in parts of its range, with long-standing regional concern in areas such as portions of the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest and especially a historically severe decline in California’s Central Valley. Ongoing pressures include the loss of prey and nest-site trees in breeding landscapes as small farms and shelterbelts give way to more intensive agriculture, along with changes on wintering grounds that can reduce insect-rich foraging habitat. Pesticide exposure on the South American winter range has caused major mortality events in the past, and continued attention to chemical use and habitat availability remains important for sustaining the species across its full annual cycle.

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

• Identification: Very large, heavy-bodied buteo with broad wings, a large head, and long, relatively narrow wings; light birds show pale underparts and a distinctive rufous “V” formed by the legs in flight.
• Where found: Breeds and winters mainly in open grasslands, prairies, and shrub-steppe of western North America, from southern Canada through the western and central United States, with wintering extending into northern Mexico.
• How to spot: Scan wide-open country for a large hawk soaring with wings held slightly raised or perched on poles, fence posts, rocks, or even on the ground; note its pale appearance at long distances and its habit of hovering or hunting close to the ground.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are generally stable at a continental scale but show significant regional declines, especially in parts of Canada and the western United States, linked to habitat loss and prey reduction.

The ferruginous hawk is the largest hawk species in North America and one of the most striking raptors of the open western landscapes. This massive buteo measures 56 to 69 centimeters (22.0 to 27.2 inches) long and shows a broad chest, a large head, and a powerful build that gives it a regal appearance in flight and at rest. Females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, though the sexes are similar in plumage. Compared with more familiar buteos such as the red-tailed hawk, this species looks longer-winged and more elongated, especially when soaring over open country.

Plumage occurs in light and dark morphs, with light birds far more common. Light-morph adults are especially distinctive, showing nearly white underparts broken only by sparse rufous or grayish spotting on the belly and the characteristic rufous “V” created by rusty-colored legs and tarsi held beneath the body in flight. The head is pale, the upperparts are washed with rich ferruginous tones on the shoulders and back, and the tail is white to pale gray with little contrast. Dark-morph birds are much rarer and appear deep rufous-brown to chocolate overall, with a pale tail and lighter panels in the primaries that still provide contrast in flight. Juveniles resemble adults of the same morph but usually show more spotting on the belly and legs and a slightly duller overall appearance.

In the field, ferruginous hawks are often detected by their size, pale coloration, and behavior. They soar and circle with wings held slightly uptilted, sometimes appearing sluggish or heavy when taking off, but once aloft they can climb high on thermals and remain airborne for long periods. When hunting, they frequently work low over the ground, hover briefly into the wind, or perch on prominent vantage points such as utility poles, fence posts, cliffs, outcrops, or even the ground itself. Vocalizations are infrequently heard, but alarm calls near nests include weak, plaintive cries that are lower-pitched and longer than those of many other buteos. The diet is relatively specialized and varies regionally, focusing on a few key prey species such as jackrabbits and cottontail rabbits in western regions, and ground squirrels or prairie dogs farther east; individuals may also pursue prey on foot, hopping or running across the ground.

This species is strongly associated with wide-open landscapes. In North America, ferruginous hawks breed mainly in the grasslands, prairies, and shrub-steppe between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, extending from southeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba south through much of the western and central United States. The breeding range is patchy and excludes large areas of unsuitable terrain, reflecting the species’ dependence on open habitats with abundant prey. Nests are placed in trees where available, as well as on cliffs, rock outcrops, isolated shrubs, artificial platforms, or occasionally on the ground. In winter, birds from northern areas move south into grassland and shrub-steppe habitats across the southwestern and central United States and into northern Mexico, with some individuals remaining far north during mild winters.

At a continental scale, ferruginous hawks are not considered threatened, but their conservation picture is complex and highly regional. In parts of the United States, long-term monitoring suggests stable or slightly increasing numbers, while other regions continue to show reduced distribution or low densities. In Canada, the species has experienced substantial historical declines and is considered threatened nationally, with intensive conservation actions underway in provinces such as Alberta. Major pressures include the loss and fragmentation of native prairie, reduction of key prey species through control programs, and disturbance or removal of nesting sites. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining large tracts of open habitat, protecting prey populations, and providing artificial nesting platforms where natural sites are scarce, all of which are critical to sustaining this iconic hawk of the western plains.

American Goshawk

Astur atricapillus

• Identification: Large, powerful accipiter with broad wings, a long rounded tail, a bold white eyebrow, and finely barred gray underparts in adults.
• Where found: Occupies extensive forests across much of Canada, Alaska, and mountainous or northern regions of the United States, with smaller numbers occurring farther south in winter.
• How to spot: Most often detected by its loud, repeated alarm calls near nests or by a sudden burst of strong, fast flight through dense forest; usually absent from towns and suburban areas.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); widespread but naturally uncommon, with regional sensitivity to forest fragmentation, logging, and disturbance around nest sites.

The American goshawk is the largest and most formidable forest hawk in North America, similar in form to Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks but much more strongly tied to large, intact forest landscapes. It measures 53 to 64 centimeters (20.9 to 25.2 inches) in length and is a deep-chested, broad-winged accipiter with a long, rounded tail that gives it exceptional power and control in wooded environments. Females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, but both sexes share the same overall structure, appearing bulky and strong compared with other forest hawks.

Adult plumage is striking yet subdued, dominated by cool gray tones. The upperparts are slate gray to brownish gray, while the underparts are pale gray with fine, dense horizontal barring and darker vertical streaking that create a softly patterned look. The head shows a dark cap set off by a prominent white superciliary stripe, giving the bird an intense expression, and the eyes range from orange to deep red. The tail is dark gray with several broad, darker bands and often a thin pale tip when fresh. Undertail coverts are white and can appear especially fluffy when the bird is alarmed or engaged in courtship. Females tend to be browner above and more coarsely marked below. Juveniles are distinctly different, with brown upperparts, heavy vertical streaking on pale underparts, yellow eyes, and a less defined eyebrow.

In the field, the American goshawk is best identified by behavior as much as by plumage. It flies with a characteristic accipiter rhythm of several strong wingbeats followed by a glide, but its wingbeats are slower and deeper than those of smaller accipiters. Within forests it moves with astonishing speed and agility, threading through trees and undergrowth in pursuit of prey. It hunts primarily by watching from elevated perches and then launching sudden, forceful attacks, sometimes chasing prey on foot through brush or even into shallow water. Near nests, both sexes are highly vocal and aggressively defensive, giving rapid, repeated “kak-kak-kak” alarm calls and occasionally swooping at intruders. Its diet is broad and opportunistic, including tree and ground squirrels, rabbits and hares, large songbirds, woodpeckers, game birds, and corvids, reflecting its role as a top predator in forest ecosystems.

This species is closely tied to large tracts of forest. In North America, it breeds widely across Alaska and most of Canada and extends south through mountainous and heavily forested regions of the western United States, the Great Lakes region, and the Northeast, with additional populations in parts of the Appalachians and highlands of the Southwest. It occupies both coniferous and mixed or deciduous forests, favoring mature stands with relatively closed canopies for nesting and foraging. Many individuals remain year-round within their breeding range, while others move south or to lower elevations in winter, occasionally appearing well outside typical breeding areas during irruption years when prey populations fluctuate.

American goshawks are widespread but naturally scarce and secretive, which makes population trends difficult to assess. Across much of their range they are considered stable, but their reliance on mature forest makes them sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. Timber harvest, road construction, and other intensive activities near nest sites can reduce breeding success, and large, continuous forest tracts appear especially important for sustaining local populations. In parts of North America the species is treated as an indicator of forest ecosystem health, and management guidelines often emphasize protecting nesting areas and maintaining suitable forest structure.

Harris’s Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

• Identification: Medium-large, long-legged buteo with a lanky build, bold tricolored plumage of dark brown, chestnut, and white, and a dark tail with a white base and terminal band.
• Where found: Occurs year-round in arid and semiopen landscapes of the southwestern United States, especially Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of California, with a broader range extending through Mexico and into Central and South America.
• How to spot: Often seen perched conspicuously on cactus, poles, or other elevated structures, sometimes in small groups; watch for cooperative hunting behavior and slow, accipiter-like flap-and-glide flight low over the terrain.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); generally common within its range but showing long-term declines in parts of the southwestern United States due to habitat loss, prey reduction, and electrocution on power infrastructure.

The Harris’s hawk is one of the most distinctive and behaviorally unusual hawks in North America, standing out as the continent’s most social raptor. This species measures 46 to 59 centimeters (18.1 to 23.2 inches) in length and is a medium-large buteo with relatively long legs and a long tail that give it a lanky appearance. Females are dramatically larger than males, often with little overlap in body mass, while both sexes share the same bold structure, long appendages, and broad wings adapted for maneuvering through semiopen habitats.

Plumage is striking and highly diagnostic. Adults are mostly dark chocolate brown to nearly blackish, contrasted by rich chestnut patches on the wing coverts, wing linings, and flanks, along with clean white upper and lower tail coverts. The tail itself is dark with a white base and a bold white terminal band, creating a sharp pattern visible even at long distances. The lores are largely bare, making the bill appear prominent, and the cere, legs, and toes are bright yellow. Juveniles resemble adults but show more buffy or cream streaking on the breast and belly, duller chestnut tones, and finer barring on the wings and tail, with more extensive pale markings overall.

In the field, Harris’s hawks are identified as much by behavior as by appearance. Their flight typically follows a flap-flap-glide pattern reminiscent of accipiters, though with slower wingbeats and longer glides, and they often fly low, closely contouring the landscape. When not flying, they perch upright on cacti, utility poles, fence posts, or trees, frequently choosing vantage points with wide views. Vocalizations are varied but generally harsh or raspy, with long, grating alarm calls given near nests or kills. Diet consists mainly of medium-sized mammals such as rabbits and hares, along with birds and reptiles, and individuals may pursue prey on foot, hopping or running with wings partially spread. This species is best known for its cooperative hunting, a rarity among raptors. Harris’s hawks often hunt in coordinated groups, taking turns flushing, chasing, and ambushing prey, and they regularly share kills among group members.

In North America, they are largely resident, occupying territories year-round rather than migrating. They breed in arid and semiopen environments, including desert scrub, mesquite woodland, thorn forest, and shrub-dotted grasslands. In the United States, breeding populations are concentrated in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western and southern Texas, and irregularly in parts of California, where populations may expand and contract over time. Nests are placed in trees, large shrubs, cacti, or occasionally on artificial structures, and territories are often defended continuously throughout the year.

Harris’s hawks remain fairly common across much of their range, but conservation concerns are increasingly regional. In the southwestern United States, long-term declines have been linked to habitat loss from urban expansion, energy development, and brush-control programs that remove key vegetation and reduce prey availability. Their frequent use of utility poles has also led to electrocution, sometimes killing multiple members of a social group at once. Conservation efforts focus on preserving semiopen desert habitats, maintaining prey populations, and retrofitting power infrastructure to reduce electrocution risk, measures that are particularly important for sustaining this highly social and charismatic hawk.

Zone-Tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

• Identification: Medium-sized, slender buteo that looks black overall, with a long tail and long, narrow wings; the underwing often appears two-toned and the tail can show pale bands.
• Where found: In North America, occurs mainly in the southwestern United States in arid foothills, canyons, and uneven terrain, often near waterways and riparian corridors.
• How to spot: Watch for a “turkey vulture-like” raptor rocking and teetering on raised wings, but with a feathered head and (sometimes visible) tail bands; it may course low and then drop quickly onto prey.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); increasing in the United States with slow northward range expansion, but still uncommon and sensitive to habitat loss, landscape modification, and disturbance at nest sites.

The zone-tailed hawk is a distinctive southwestern raptor best known for how convincingly it can resemble a turkey vulture in flight, a resemblance that may help it approach prey. The species is a medium-sized buteo that measures 45 to 56 centimeters (17.7 to 22.0 inches) in length and has a notably light, slender build for the group. Long, narrow wings and a relatively long tail create an elongated profile, and when perched the folded wings can extend to the tip of the tail, reinforcing its sleek, stretched shape. Males and females are similar in plumage, with females averaging slightly larger and more heavily built.

Adults are overall slaty black with a faint brownish cast, set off by bright yellow legs and cere. The underwing is characteristically two-toned: the wing-linings look black, while the flight feathers appear pale gray with fine dusky banding and a broad, darker trailing edge. The tail is dark with two or three pale bands that can look whitish from below and grayer from above, though these bands are often hard to pick out at a distance. Immature birds tend to look browner and may show white spotting on the underparts and around the head, with a more finely banded tail pattern than adults.

In the field, the best clue is often flight behavior rather than markings. Zone-tailed hawks frequently soar on slightly raised wings held in a shallow “V” and may tip from side to side in a way that recalls a turkey vulture; they can also switch to more direct, steady gliding, especially during movement. They sometimes course fairly low over the ground or treetops and may strike by stooping onto prey from low heights, using cover to approach closely before a quick drop. When disturbed near nests, they can give harsh, drawn-out calls, including a long, voice-breaking “kreeeee!;” other harsh, hawk-like calls may also be heard during soaring and courtship. The diet is largely vertebrates and includes birds, small mammals such as ground squirrels and chipmunks, and a notable share of reptiles and amphibians in parts of the range.

In North America, this is a Neotropical hawk that reaches its northernmost limits in the southwestern United States, where it is most often sought in southern Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and parts of California. It breeds in rugged landscapes – foothills, mesas, cliffs, and canyons, often where waterways and tall riparian woods provide nest sites, and it also uses upland desert scrub, grasslands, and forest edges in suitable terrain. Northern breeders are migratory, so the species is most expected in spring and summer in the United States, with wintering mainly south in Mexico and Central America and only scattered, local winter records in the Southwest. Nests are typically placed in riparian corridors or wooded canyons, reflecting its frequent association with dwindling streamside habitat in arid regions.

Across its range, the zone-tailed hawk is generally uncommon, and in the United States it has long been considered local and sparse in many areas even where habitat appears suitable. Recent decades have brought signs of slow northward expansion in the United States, suggesting a modest increase regionally, but the species remains one that benefits from close monitoring because it is rarely abundant at the northern edge of its range. The primary conservation concerns in the region center on loss and modification of nesting and foraging habitat, especially riparian corridors, along with disturbance at nest sites associated with development and other landscape changes. Where intact canyon and riparian systems persist, the species can continue to occupy traditional breeding areas and gradually extend into new ones.

Gray Hawk

Buteo plagiatus

• Identification: Medium-sized, slender buteo with a long tail and short, rounded wings; adults are pale gray with finely barred underparts and a boldly banded black-and-white tail.
• Where found: Occurs very locally in the southwestern United States, mainly along riparian corridors in southern Arizona, parts of New Mexico, and southern Texas near the Mexican border.
• How to spot: Look for a pale gray hawk soaring low with wings held level and tail fanned, or perched quietly in cottonwoods and mesquites; listen for its distinctive whistled, three-part call during the breeding season.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations in the United States are small and localized, with past declines linked to riparian habitat loss but recent increases in some areas as streamside woodlands recover.

The gray hawk is a distinctive Neotropical species that just reaches the United States at the northern edge of its range, making it one of the most localized hawks in North America. It measures 37 to 46 centimeters (14.6 to 18.1 inches) in length and is small and lightly built for a buteo, with proportions that can recall an accipiter at first glance. Females are noticeably larger than males, though both sexes share the same overall shape: a slim-bodied hawk with relatively short, rounded wings and a fairly long tail.

Adults show a single, consistent plumage. The upperparts and crown are medium gray, while the underparts are neatly patterned with fine gray-and-white barring that gives the bird a soft, evenly marked appearance. The underwings are mostly whitish with light gray barring on the flight feathers and darker wingtips, and the undertail coverts are clean white. The tail is black with three white bands and a narrow gray-brown terminal band, creating a bold pattern that is often visible when the tail is spread in flight. The cere and legs are bright yellow, contrasting with the otherwise muted gray tones. Immatures are browner above and buffy below with heavy dark streaking and spotting, a more strongly banded tail, and a boldly patterned face with a dark eye stripe and paler cheek.

In the field, gray hawks are often identified as much by behavior as by plumage. Their flight is notably accipiter-like, with rapid wingbeats followed by short glides, and when soaring they typically hold their wings level rather than in a raised dihedral. They frequently soar lower to the ground than many other buteos, especially in the early afternoon, with the tail fanned and the wings set stiffly. When perched, they often sit quietly below the canopy, watching intently before making a swift, direct drop toward prey. Vocalizations are most often heard in the breeding season, when adults give a distinctive whistled, three-part call used in territory defense and pair communication, along with a drawn-out alarm call when disturbed. The diet in the northern part of the range is dominated by reptiles, especially lizards, with birds and small mammals taken less frequently.

In North America, the gray hawk’s breeding range is tightly linked to riparian woodlands in arid and semi-arid landscapes. In Arizona, it is most closely associated with cottonwood, willow, and mesquite corridors along rivers and streams in the south-central part of the state, with smaller numbers along tributaries. It also breeds sparingly in southwestern New Mexico and locally in southern Texas, particularly along the lower Rio Grande Valley and in a few western counties. Northern populations are migratory, with most birds leaving the United States in winter, though a few individuals occasionally overwinter in southern Arizona or Texas. Nests are typically placed in trees within streamside woodlands, reflecting the species’ strong dependence on intact riparian habitat.

Although the gray hawk is widespread and fairly common across much of its range farther south, its United States population is small and localized. Historically, the species declined in parts of Arizona and Texas as riparian forests were cleared and groundwater depletion reduced streamside vegetation. In recent decades, numbers in some areas have increased, likely reflecting partial recovery of riverine woodlands and reduced pressure from woodcutting and overgrazing. Even so, the species remains sensitive to habitat degradation and disturbance, and its continued presence in the United States depends heavily on the protection and restoration of riparian corridors in the Southwest.

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

• Identification: Large, broad-winged, short-tailed buteonine hawk that looks black overall; adults show a wide white band and a thin white tip on the tail, plus yellow bare parts.
• Where found: In North America, breeds mainly along wooded rivers and streams in the southwestern United States, with much broader occurrence south through Mexico and beyond; strongly tied to riparian corridors and other wet wooded habitats.
• How to spot: Search shaded canyon streams for a heavy-bodied black hawk perched over water, or watch for slow, strong wingbeats and flat-winged soaring with a fanned tail; listen for its shrill series of piercing notes over territory.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); rare and localized in the United States and vulnerable to loss and degradation of mature riparian habitat driven by water diversion, drought, and other impacts on streamside forests.

The common black hawk is one of the most habitat-specific hawks in the United States, a river-dependent raptor that is uncommon north of the Mexican border but much more widespread and numerous farther south. It measures 43 to 56 centimeters (16.9 to 22.0 inches) in length and appears heavy and full-bodied, with massively broad wings and a relatively short tail that often looks wide when spread. In the Southwest it is often confused with the zone-tailed hawk, but the common black hawk shows broader wings held flat in flight, a shorter and more often fanned tail with a grayish cast to the plumage, stays closely tied to wooded waterways, and gives a rapid series of piercing notes rather than a continuous, buteo-like scream.

Adult plumage looks basically black at a distance, but the feathers often show a grayish cast in good light. The most consistent field mark is the tail pattern: a broad white band across the middle and a thin white terminal band at the tip, set against an otherwise dark tail. In some individuals, pale flashes can also show at the base of the outer primaries, creating brief light windows in the wings, though these can be subtle or difficult to see depending on lighting and angle. The cere and gape are yellow to yellow-orange, the legs are distinctly yellow, and the bill is black toward the tip. Juveniles are strikingly different, appearing buffy to creamy above with heavy brown streaking and a prominent dark malar stripe, and showing a tail with many narrow alternating dark and light bands.

In the field, common black hawks are often detected by a combination of shape, behavior, and voice. They frequently perch in trees overhanging water, watching intently before dropping down swiftly onto prey with talons extended, and they may also hunt from lower perches such as boulders or logs near the shoreline. Flight is usually slow and strong, and when soaring they often keep the tail broadly fanned, moving in a steady, flat-winged glide above their corridor. Over territory, especially in the breeding season, they can be notably vocal, giving a distinctive call that is typically a rapid series of piercing notes that rises and then falls in intensity across a few seconds. Their diet is exceptionally broad, but in the northern part of the range they are especially well known for taking aquatic prey such as fish and other water-associated animals, while also feeding on reptiles, birds, mammals, and other available prey.

In North America, the species breeds chiefly in the southwestern United States, where it is strongly associated with mature riparian forest and wooded stream corridors in remote canyons and desert river systems. Arizona holds the largest and most established United States breeding population, with pairs concentrated along waterways draining the Mogollon Rim and other major river systems, and the species also breeds in parts of New Mexico and Texas in suitable streamside habitat. Northern populations are migratory, leaving the United States and adjacent northern Mexico for winter, while birds farther south are generally assumed to be resident. Nesting is closely tied to well-developed streamside woodland where pairs can place nests in trees and maintain access to reliable foraging areas along the water.

Although common black hawks are not considered globally threatened, the species is rare enough in the United States to be of conservation concern because its breeding populations are small, localized, and dependent on a habitat type that is scarce in arid landscapes. The principal regional threats stem from loss and degradation of mature riparian forest as water is diverted, groundwater levels drop, and drought intensifies stress on streamside systems. Additional pressures can include land-use changes that reduce regeneration of native riparian vegetation, and broader landscape shifts that diminish the continuity of wooded corridors along rivers. Where flowing water and mature riparian woodland persist, the species can remain established and may even form small, localized expansions, but its long-term stability in the United States remains tightly linked to the protection of functioning river ecosystems.

White-Tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

• Identification: Large, broad-winged buteonine hawk with a striking white tail crossed by a wide black band; adults are pale gray above with white underparts and a rufous shoulder patch.
• Where found: In North America, occurs mainly in southern Texas, especially along the Gulf Coast and nearby inland prairies, in open grasslands, savannas, and lightly wooded country.
• How to spot: Watch for a big hawk hanging motionless in the wind while “kiting” or hovering over open country; the bright white tail with a bold black band is visible at long range.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations in the United States are localized and sensitive to habitat loss and disturbance, particularly from conversion of native grasslands and changes in land use.

The white-tailed hawk is one of the most distinctive open-country hawks in North America, instantly recognizable by its bold tail pattern and buoyant flight style. The species measures 46 to 58 centimeters (18.1 to 22.8 inches) in length and has long, very broad wings that give it a powerful yet graceful appearance in the air. Sexes are alike in plumage, though females are noticeably larger than males, and the species has a classic soaring-hawk silhouette well suited to wide, windswept landscapes.

Adult plumage is clean and high-contrast. The upperparts range from light to darker gray, while the breast and abdomen are white, creating a sharp division between upper and lower surfaces. A warm cinnamon to rufous patch on the upperwing coverts and shoulder area is a key field mark when seen well. The tail is bright white with a single, wide black subterminal band, a pattern not fully acquired until the third year. Juveniles look very different, appearing dark brown above and below, lacking the bold adult tail band and rufous shoulders, and showing a paler breast with darker lower underparts; a white eyebrow stripe often stands out on the face. Rarely, melanistic individuals occur, appearing very dark overall except for the normally patterned tail.

In the field, white-tailed hawks are most easily identified by their flight behavior and tail pattern. Wingbeats are slower than in most other buteonine hawks, and when soaring they typically hold the wings in a shallow “V,” or dihedral. Adults frequently kite or hover in strong winds, remaining nearly motionless high above the ground with wings spread and tail fanned as they search for prey, a behavior especially conspicuous over open prairie. They also hunt from perches and may walk on the ground at times. Vocalizations around the nest include a series of harsh, repeated notes used in alarm and territorial contexts. The diet is broad and includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and large insects, with prey taken both from the ground and in midair.

In North America, the species is a localized breeder in semi-arid to arid open habitats of southern Texas, with its strongest presence along the Gulf Coast and in inland prairie regions such as the Coastal Bend. It favors native grasslands, savannas, and shrub-dotted open country, often avoiding intensively cultivated farmland and heavily developed areas. Unlike many northern buteos, adults that successfully breed tend to remain close to their territories year-round, showing little seasonal movement, while birds elsewhere in the broader range are largely resident. Nests are placed in shrubs or small trees within open landscapes that provide wide views and access to prey.

Globally, the white-tailed hawk is widespread and not considered threatened, but its situation in the United States reflects its dependence on specific habitats. Historically, extensive changes to grasslands and savannas through agriculture, overgrazing, shrub removal, and urban development reduced suitable breeding areas, leading to long-term declines and range contraction. Today, remaining populations persist where open, lightly wooded grasslands are maintained, but they remain vulnerable to continued habitat loss and to disturbance near nest sites. Conservation of native prairie and savanna landscapes is therefore central to the species’ long-term stability at the northern edge of its range.

Short-Tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

• Identification: Small, broad-winged buteo with two distinct color morphs – dark and light, both showing a relatively short, broad tail with a wide dark band and long wings that appear slightly upswept when soaring.
• Where found: In the United States, restricted to peninsular Florida, where it occurs locally and uncommonly in subtropical forests and adjacent open areas.
• How to spot: Most often seen high overhead, sometimes as a distant speck, soaring or kiting for long periods; look for the vulture-like wing posture, pale primaries contrasting with darker secondaries, and sudden steep dives toward prey.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); small, isolated Florida population is of high conservation and research concern due to its limited range and vulnerability.

The short-tailed hawk is the rarest regularly occurring hawk in the United States and one of the most distinctive buteos in behavior. It measures 39 to 44 centimeters (15.4 to 17.3 inches) in length and has a compact appearance compared with many other North American hawks. Sexes are alike in plumage, though females average larger and heavier, and adults retain the same basic appearance throughout the year. Despite the common name, the tail is not unusually short compared to other buteos, but it does appear broad and compact in flight.

Two color morphs occur in all populations. Light-morph adults show a dark brown head and face with a contrasting white throat, creating a hooded look, while the underparts are mostly white with only faint streaking on the upper breast. Dark-morph adults are almost entirely dark brown above and below and predominate in the Florida population, where this morph is seen more frequently than the light morph. In both morphs, the underwing flight feathers appear pale gray to whitish with a distinct darker terminal band, and the tail is pale below with a wide dark subterminal band. Juveniles differ noticeably, having proportionately longer tails with many narrow bands of equal width and lacking the bold adult tail pattern; light-morph juveniles often show buffy or tawny edging below, while dark-morph juveniles have white spotting or streaking on the underparts.

In the field, behavior is often the best clue to identification. Short-tailed hawks spend much of the day soaring at great heights, beginning a few hours after sunrise when thermals develop and continuing until late afternoon. When actively hunting, they frequently face into the wind and kite, hanging nearly motionless on spread wings, before making rapid, steep, almost vertical stoops. Unlike some other hawks, they do not hover by flapping, and they rarely, if ever, hunt from perches. This aerial hunting style, combined with their slightly raised wing posture, can make them resemble vultures at a distance. Their diet consists mainly of small birds, taken from treetops, shrubs, or forest edges, with small mammals and reptiles taken less often. Hunting typically occurs along ecotones where wooded areas meet open habitats such as prairies, marshes, mangroves, or pastures.

Within the United States, the species breeds only in peninsular Florida, from the Big Bend region south through central and southern parts of the peninsula, including the Everglades and Big Cypress area. In Florida, individuals are closely associated with long forest edges bordering open country, including mangrove-marsh interfaces and pine savannas. The U.S. population is disjunct from the rest of the species’ broad range, which extends from Mexico through Central America and much of South America. Florida birds are now considered truly migratory on a local scale, with most individuals moving south of Lake Okeechobee in winter, especially into the Everglades and Florida Keys, while remaining resident elsewhere in the species’ range.

Globally, the short-tailed hawk is widespread and considered secure, but the Florida population is small, often estimated at only a few hundred individuals, and isolated. Although not formally listed as threatened, it ranks very high among Florida vertebrates in need of research and monitoring. Ongoing concerns include habitat loss, development, collisions with man-made structures, and the long-term effects of climate change on low-lying winter habitats.

North America’s Hawk Diversity

These 15 species represent the hawks that occur regularly across the United States and Canada, spanning a wide range of habitats, hunting styles, and evolutionary lineages. From familiar roadside buteos to elusive forest accipiters and highly localized southern specialists, North America’s hawks reward careful observation with an exceptional diversity of forms and behaviors.

A handful of additional hawks have been recorded north of their typical ranges but remain rare visitors rather than established members of the continent’s avifauna. Neotropical species such as the great black hawk, crane hawk, and roadside hawk appear only as vagrants or casual records in the southern United States, while Old World species like the long-legged buzzard are accidental at best. The Hawaiian hawk, although a U.S. endemic, occurs well outside continental North America and is best considered separately. Taken together, these records highlight the dynamic nature of hawk movements while underscoring why the species covered here define the core hawk fauna of North America.