Florida is home to a diverse range of bird species, including several types of hawks. These majestic birds of prey can be found throughout the state, soaring over open fields, forests, and water bodies.
From the common Red-Shouldered Hawk to the rare Swainson’s Hawk, Florida offers a variety of hawks for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to observe.
You are reading: 8 Types Of Hawks In Florida
In this article, we will explore the different types of hawks that can be found in Florida, as well as their distinctive features and habitats. Whether you are a seasoned birder or a casual observer, Florida’s hawks are sure to impress with their grace, power, and beauty.
8 Types Of Hawks In Florida
Red-Shouldered Hawk
The Red-Shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized buteo that is a year-round resident in Florida. It is one of the most commonly seen hawks throughout the state.
Red-shouldered hawks are forest raptors and tend to live in stands with an open subcanopy, which makes hunting easier. They are not exclusively birds of deep forest, though, and can be found in some suburban areas where houses or other buildings are mixed into woodlands.
In Florida, adults have pale gray heads and light orange-brown barring on the underparts. They have broad, rounded wings and medium-length tails that they fan out when soaring.
Red-shouldered hawks usually hunt by watching from a perch, either within forest or in open, swooping down when it locates prey. These forest hawks hunt prey ranging from mice to frogs and snakes.
Northern Harrier
The Northern Harrier is a slender, medium-sized raptor with long, fairly broad wings and a long, rounded tail. It is a distinctive hawk that is usually seen quartering low over the ground in open country.
Northern Harriers have a flat, owl-like face and a small, sharply hooked bill. They are the most owl-like of hawks and rely on hearing as well as vision to capture prey. The disk-shaped face looks and functions much like an owl’s, with stiff facial feathers helping to direct sound to the ears. Juvenile males have pale greenish-yellow eyes, while juvenile females have dark chocolate brown eyes.
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The eye color of both sexes changes gradually to lemon yellow by the time they reach adulthood. Northern Harriers usually hunt by flying low over fields, scanning the ground, and may find some prey by sound.
On locating prey in dense cover, they may hover low over the site or attempt to drive prey out into the open. They hunt mostly small mammals and small birds, but they are capable of taking bigger prey like rabbits and ducks.
In Florida, Northern Harriers are usually seen in wide-open grasslands, marshes, or fields. They are one of the largest hawks in Florida and are the second most frequently seen hawk in the state.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most widespread and familiar large hawks in North America, and is a year-round resident in Florida. It breeds throughout most of North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies.
Red-tailed hawks are bulky and broad-winged, designed for effortless soaring, and are inhabitants of open country, including woodlands, prairie groves, mountains, plains, and roadsides. They are found in any kind of terrain that provides both some open ground for hunting and some high perches.
Red-tailed hawks are one of the largest members of the genus Buteo, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males. They have broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. The tail is usually brick-red, but there are also dark morphs and various regional differences.
Red-tailed hawks hunt from perches and from the air, and can spot prey from up to 100 feet in the air. They feed on a variety of prey, including rodents, rabbits, lizards, and other small animals.
Red-tailed hawks often mate for life and build stick nests in trees, high above the ground. The female hawk lays one to five eggs, which are white with brown spots.
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized hawk that is native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. Here are some key facts about Cooper’s Hawk:
Identification:
– Cooper’s Hawk has the classic accipiter shape, with broad, rounded wings and a very long tail.
– In Cooper’s Hawks, the head often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded.
– Males are about crow-sized, while females are larger.
Habitat:
– Cooper’s Hawks are common to wooded habitats around the world.
– They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and suburban areas.
Behavior:
– Cooper’s Hawks are agile and relatively small hawks that are known for their ability to hunt large and evasive prey using extremely well-developed agility.
– They feed on a variety of prey, including birds, small mammals, and reptiles.
– Cooper’s Hawks are known for their distinctive “kak-kak-kak” call.
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Sharp-Shinned Hawk
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The Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) is a small hawk that is native to North America and is found throughout the United States and Canada. Here are some key facts about the Sharp-Shinned Hawk:
Identification:
– Sharp-Shinned Hawks are small, long-tailed hawks with short, rounded wings.
– They have small heads that in flight do not always project beyond the “wrists” of the wings.
– The tail tends to be square-tipped and may show a notch at the tip.
– Females are considerably larger than males.
Habitat:
– Sharp-Shinned Hawks are found in a variety of habitats, including mixed or coniferous forests, open deciduous woodlands, thickets, and edges.
– They usually nest in groves of coniferous trees in mixed woods, sometimes in dense deciduous trees or in pure coniferous forest with brush or clearings nearby.
– In winter, they are found in any kind of forest or brushy area, but tend to avoid open country.
Behavior:
– Sharp-Shinned Hawks hunt mostly by perching inside foliage and waiting for small birds to approach, or by approaching stealthily through dense cover, then bursting forth with incredibly swift flight to capture prey in its talons.
– Sometimes they hunt by flying rapidly among the trees or low over the ground, threading its way around obstacles, taking prey by sudden surprise.
– They feed mainly on birds captured in flight, but also eat small mammals and insects.
Other Information:
– Sharp-Shinned Hawks are often confused with Cooper’s Hawks, which are similar in appearance but larger.
– The size difference between the sexes in Sharp-Shinned Hawks influences the size of prey they can catch.
– Before delivering prey to their mates or young, male Sharp-Shinned Hawks typically remove and eat the head.
Short-Tailed Hawk
The Short-Tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) is a bird of prey that is native to the Americas and is a member of the family Accipitridae. Here are some key facts about the Short-Tailed Hawk:
Identification:
– Short-Tailed Hawks are small to medium-sized hawks with broad wings and short tails.
– They have a distinctive shape in flight, with wings held in a shallow V-shape and the tail held in a slight dihedral.
– Short-Tailed Hawks have two color morphs: a dark morph and a light morph.
Habitat:
– Short-Tailed Hawks are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and savannas.
– They are most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.
Behavior:
– Short-Tailed Hawks are specialist predators of birds, and feed mostly on small birds.
– They are often seen soaring on flat wings with tips swept upwards, suddenly dropping out of the sky like a rock to catch prey.
– Short-Tailed Hawks are infrequently seen perching, and are usually spotted while soaring high in the air, scanning for prey below or while hovering at updrafts.
Other Information:
– Short-Tailed Hawks are one of the least studied raptors in the United States.
– Unlike most of the Buteo hawks, the Short-Tail feeds mostly on small birds.
– The Short-Tailed Hawk is sometimes referred to as a “buteo” or “buzzard,” but it is not a true hawk.
Broad-Winged Hawk
The Broad-Winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk that is native to North America. Here are some key facts about the Broad-Winged Hawk:
Identification:
– Broad-Winged Hawks are small to medium-sized hawks with broad wings and a short, square tail.
– They have a distinctive shape in flight, with wings held in a shallow V-shape and the tail held in a slight dihedral.
– Broad-Winged Hawks have two color morphs: a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall.
Habitat:
– Broad-Winged Hawks are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and savannas.
– They are most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from southern Mexico to southern Brazil.
Behavior:
– Broad-Winged Hawks feed mainly on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
– They are often seen soaring on flat wings with tips swept upwards, suddenly dropping out of the sky like a rock to catch prey.
– Broad-Winged Hawks are known for their distinctive “pe-wee” call.
Other Information:
– Broad-Winged Hawks are known for their massive flocks called “kettles” during migration, when they travel from the U.S. and Canada all the way to winter in Central and South America.
– The nominate subspecies of Broad-Winged Hawk is the migratory group, which breeds in dense forests of the eastern and central U.S. and Canada.
– Although the Broad-Winged Hawk’s numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.
Swainson’s Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) is a medium-sized hawk that is native to the Americas and is a member of the family Accipitridae. Here are some key facts about the Swainson’s Hawk:
Identification:
– Swainson’s Hawks are medium-sized hawks with broad wings and a short, square tail.
– They have a distinctive shape in flight, with wings held in a shallow V-shape and the tail held in a slight dihedral.
– Swainson’s Hawks have two color morphs: a dark morph and a light morph.
Habitat:
– Swainson’s Hawks are found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, grasslands, and prairies.
– They require elevated perches for hunting and a supply of small mammals such as young ground squirrels as prey for its nestlings.
Behavior:
– Swainson’s Hawks feed mainly on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
– They are often seen soaring on narrow wings or perching on fence posts and irrigation spouts.
– Swainson’s Hawks are long-distance migrants, traveling around 6,000 miles each way, and undertake one of the longest migrations of any North American bird of prey.
Other Information:
– Swainson’s Hawks are known for their massive flocks called “kettles” during migration, when they travel from the U.S. and Canada all the way to winter in Central and South America.
– The Swainson’s Hawk is named after William Swainson, a British naturalist.
– Swainson’s Hawks are often seen in freshly mown fields, feasting on grasshoppers and other insects that can be detrimental to crops.
FAQS
1. How many types of hawks are found in Florida?
There are eight types of hawks that can be found in Florida, including the Red-Shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-Tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Short-Tailed Hawk, Broad-Winged Hawk, and Swainson’s Hawk.
2. Which is the most common hawk in Florida?
The Red-Shouldered Hawk is the most common hawk in Florida.
3. Which is the smallest hawk in Florida?
The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in Florida.
4. Do hawks attack dogs in Florida?
Yes, hawks can attack dogs in Florida, but it is not a common occurrence. Hawks will only attack prey they deem small enough to pick up and carry away. It is important to take precautions to prevent hawk attacks on your dog.
5. Which hawk species is considered the most dangerous in the US?
In general, the Red-Tailed Hawk is considered one of the most dangerous hawk species in the US due to its size and range.
6. How many hawk species are there in the US?
There are approximately 25 species of hawks across the US.
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Category: Birds
