Hawks are abundant across North Carolina, inhabiting diverse regions from coastal plains to mountain ranges. Their widespread presence confirms the state provides suitable environments for numerous hawk species.
Hawk Species in North Carolina
North Carolina is home to several hawk species. The Red-tailed Hawk is a common species found year-round, known for its rust-colored tail in adults and a prominent brown belly band on its white underside. It is a large, stocky hawk, ranging from 18 to 25 inches in length with a wingspan of around 48 inches.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a frequent resident, a medium-sized hawk with reddish-orange underparts and black and white barring on its wings and tail. These hawks are often heard before they are seen, known for their distinctive “kee-ah kee-ah” call.
Cooper’s Hawks are widespread, recognized by their bluish-black backs, reddish eyes, and pale orange barring on their chests. They are medium-sized and have a rounded tail.
The Broad-winged Hawk is a smaller hawk with broad wings and a dark brown body with a pale whitish belly featuring horizontal bars. During fall migration, these hawks gather in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk species in North Carolina, characterized by a grayish back, an orangy chest, and distinctive tail stripes. It has short, rounded wings and a long, square-tipped tail.
Where to Find Hawks
Hawks can be observed across a wide range of habitats throughout North Carolina. Red-tailed Hawks are frequently seen circling over open fields or perched on telephone poles along roadsides, though they also prefer woodlands and transitional zones. They often nest in tall trees within forests but hunt in open areas.
Red-shouldered Hawks inhabit diverse environments, including suburban areas, deciduous forests, wooded swamps, and riparian zones, often near water sources. Broad-winged Hawks are found at the edges of forests, but they can also be sighted along shores, coastlines, or ridges. Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks prefer wooded areas and can often be found near backyard bird feeders, as they prey on smaller birds.
How to Identify Hawks
Identifying hawks involves observing several visual cues. Size and overall body shape are starting points; the Red-tailed Hawk is large and chunky with broad, rounded wings and a short, rust-colored tail. In contrast, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is smaller with short, rounded wings and a long, square-tipped tail. Cooper’s Hawks resemble Sharp-shinned Hawks but are larger, with a more rounded tail and a larger, block-like head.
Plumage patterns also provide clues, like the Red-tailed Hawk’s distinctive brown belly band on its white breast. Red-shouldered Hawks have reddish, barred bellies and black-and-white barred tails and wings. Broad-winged Hawks are pale underneath with thick, white bands across their short tails. Observing flight patterns is also helpful; Red-tailed Hawks soar for extended periods, while Red-shouldered Hawks flap their wings more frequently than Red-tailed Hawks.
Hawk Habits and Diet
Hawks use various hunting techniques. Many species, such as the Red-tailed Hawk, often perch high on poles or trees, scanning for movement below before swooping down at a steep angle with talons extended. Other hawks, like the Broad-winged Hawk, watch for prey from a perch and then quickly descend.
The diet of hawks includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, and large insects. Red-tailed Hawks eat rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. Red-shouldered Hawks eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and sometimes birds. Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks specialize in preying on other birds, including songbirds, and may frequent bird feeders.