Types of Hawks – BirdWatching

When it comes to hawks in the United States, identifying them can be trickier than you might expect. It’s easy to assume that any bird with “hawk” in its name is, well, a hawk – but the truth is that’s not always the case. Some species commonly referred to as hawks aren’t true hawks, while other true hawks may go by names you wouldn’t expect. Whether you’re a bird watching enthusiast or just curious about these fascinating birds of prey, this guide will help you navigate the confusing world of hawk identification and introduce you to the various types found across the U.S.

True Hawks

There are only 3 members of the Accipiter family, which is the hawk family. Let’s look at those first.

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Range

Call

Size

Cooper’s Hawks are moving into suburbia. Look out for them stalking their bird prey at backyard feeders!

Male:

Length: 14.6-15.3 in (37-39 cm)

Weight: 7.8-14.5 oz (220-410 g)

Wingspan: 24.4-35.4 in (62-90 cm)

Female:

Length: 16.5-17.7 in (42-45 cm)

Weight: 11.6-24.0 oz (330-680 g)

Wingspan: 29.5-35.4 in (75-90 cm)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Range

Call

Size

Sharp-shinned Hawks, like others, crush their prey with their talons before sitting somewhere to pluck and eat it.

Length: 9.4-13.4 in (24-34 cm)

Weight: 3.1-7.7 oz (87-218 g)

Wingspan: 16.9-22.1 in (43-56 cm)

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Range

Call

Size

The Northern Goshawk is the fiercest of the true hawks. It will aggressively hunt for food and defend its nest, attacking even humans if they get too close.

Length: 20.9-25.2 in (53-64 cm)

Weight: 22.3-48.1 oz (631-1364 g)

Wingspan: 40.5-46.1 in (103-117 cm)

Harrier Hawks

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Range

Call

Size

The owl-like face of the Northern Harrier is not all that this hawk has in common with our nocturnal friends. They also have exceptional hearing, which they use to help them hunt.

Length: 18.1-19.7 in (46-50 cm)

Weight: 10.6-26.5 oz (300-750 g)

Wingspan: 40.2-46.5 in (102-118 cm)

Buteo Hawks

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Range

Call

Size

The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most common raptors across the United States and also amongst the largest.

Male:

Length: 17.7-22.1 in (45-56 cm)

Weight: 24.3-45.9 oz (690-1300 g)

Wingspan: 44.9-52.4 in (114-133 cm)

Female:

Length: 19.7-25.6 in (50-65 cm)

Weight: 31.8-51.5 oz (900-1460 g)

Wingspan: 44.9-52.4 in (114-133 cm)

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Range

Call

Size

This stunning hawk has certainly earned its name. Ferruginous means rusty red, and this bird has that on its shoulders in particular.

Length: 22.1-27.2 in (56-69 cm)

Weight: 34.5-73.2 oz (977-2074 g)

Wingspan: 52.4-55.9 in (133-142 cm)

Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Range

Call

Size

The Harris Hawk is one of the few raptor species that hunts in groups. Two or more birds will work together to distract, hunt, and trap their prey.

Length: 18.1-23.2 in (46-59 cm)

Weight: 18.2-31.0 oz (515-880 g)

Wingspan: 40.5-46.9 in (103-119 cm)

Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius)

Range

Call

Size

This hawk is restricted to the Big Island. As native animals have disappeared, it has adapted to eating introduced species like rats, lizards, and non-native birds.

Length: 16-18 in (40-46 cm)

Weight: 15.6-21.3 oz (441-605 g) 

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Range

Call

Size

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a cooperative raptor. It will work with other bird species to achieve a goal of removing a larger predator from the area or distracting prey.

Length: 16.9-24.0 in (43-61 cm)

Weight: 17.1-27.3 oz (486-774 g)

Wingspan: 37.0-43.7 in (94-111 cm)

Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)

Range

Call

Size

The Short-tailed Hawk is actually a Central and South American bird. There is an isolated population in Florida. When they migrate, they all south to the Florida Keys, and this is a fantastic place to see them.

Length: 15.3-17.3 in (39-44 cm)

Weight: 13.6-16.9 oz (385-480 g)

Wingspan: 32.7-40.5 in (83-103 cm)

Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus)

Range

Call

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Range

Call

Size

When it migrates to South America, the Broad-winged Hawk gathers in huge numbers. These flocks are called kettles and can be an amazing site as they swirl around in the sky.

Length: 13.4-17.3 in (34-44 cm)

Weight: 9.3-19.8 oz (265-560 g)

Wingspan: 31.9-39.4 in (81-100 cm)

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

Range

Call

Size

The Swainson’s Hawk has the longest migration of all our raptors and can fly over 7,000 to their second homes in South America.

Length: 17-22in (43-56 cm)

Weight: 17.6-27.2 oz (500-1170 g)

Wingspan: 46-54in (117-137 cm

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)

Range

Call

Size

Common Black Hawks act a bit like herons when they are hunting in shallow waters. They will use their wings to startle prey or to herd it to a better place for it to catch them.

Length: 16.9-22.1 in (43-56 cm)

Weight: 27.9 oz (790 g)

Wingspan: 46.1 in (117 cm

Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)

Range

Call

Size

Turkey Vultures look similar to the Zone-tailed Hawk in flight, and researchers think that these crafty hawks mimic the behavior of the vulture because potential prey know that the vulture is no threat to them.

Length: 17.7-22.1 in (45-56 cm)

Weight: 21.4-23.5 oz (607-667 g)

Wingspan: 46.9-55.1 in (119-140 cm)

Geranoaetus Hawk

White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)

Rang

Call

Size

The White-tailed Hawk has an unusual decoration for its nest. It always has a long stick stuck in it, and no one knows why.

Length: 18.1-20.5 in (46-52 cm )

Weight: 31.0-43.6 oz (880-1235 g)

Wingspan: 50.4-51.6 in (128-131 cm)

Final Thoughts

So, that is the hawks in the United States. We have:

• 3 True Hawks
• 1 Harrier Hawk
• 1 Geranoaetus Hawk
• 11 Buteo Hawks

These birds can be difficult to identify in the wild, or to be more exact, in the air! I try to find one feature that I can remember and go from there.

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