Hawks are medium-sized birds of prey found across nearly all continents, excluding Antarctica. Classified within the family Accipitridae, they are efficient predators. Hawks possess keen eyesight, allowing them to spot prey from considerable distances. They employ powerful talons, strong feet, and hooked beaks to secure and dismember their catches.
Major Hawk Groups
Hawks are broadly categorized into several groups, each with distinct characteristics and hunting styles. The three primary groups often discussed are Buteos, Accipiters, and Harriers. These classifications help in understanding their general form and behavior.
Buteos
Buteos typically have broad, rounded wings and relatively short, wide tails. They are built for soaring on thermals, often seen circling high in open areas. A common example is the Red-tailed Hawk, a large species with a distinctive reddish-brown tail in adults. Another example, the Red-shouldered Hawk, prefers moist woodlands and exhibits a flap-flap-glide pattern of flight.
Accipiters
Accipiters are agile woodland hunters characterized by short, rounded wings and long tails. This body shape allows for swift, maneuverable flight through dense forest environments. The Cooper’s Hawk is a North American accipiter with adults displaying reddish eyes. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a smaller accipiter. Accipiters often hunt by dashing suddenly from a concealed perch.
Harriers
Harriers are slender, medium-sized raptors with long wings and tails, and a unique owl-like facial disc. This facial structure helps them locate prey by sound, a trait uncommon among other hawks. They are often observed flying low over open grasslands and marshes with their wings held in a V-shape.
Key Identification Markers
Identifying different hawk types often relies on a combination of visual cues, especially when observing them in flight. Key markers include overall size, body shape, wing shape, tail characteristics, and flight patterns. These attributes provide important clues, particularly when direct plumage details are difficult to discern.
Wing Shape and Flight
Wing shape is a primary identifier. Buteos typically have broad, rounded wings suited for soaring, while Accipiters possess shorter, more rounded wings and long tails, enabling rapid navigation through trees. The way a hawk holds its wings in flight can also be telling. Northern Harriers, for example, often hold their wings in a shallow V-shape, known as a dihedral.
Tail Features and Plumage
Tail features offer additional distinctions. Buteos generally have relatively short, broad tails, whereas Accipiters have long, often rounded tails. The Red-tailed Hawk is named for its rusty-red tail, a prominent feature in adult birds. The Northern Harrier is identifiable by its distinctive white rump patch visible in flight. Plumage patterns, such as the dark “belly band” on some Red-tailed Hawks, can also aid identification.
Flight behavior further assists identification. Buteos often soar in wide circles with minimal flapping, while Accipiters use quick, powerful wingbeats interspersed with glides for agile pursuit.
Habitats and Behaviors
Hawks exhibit diverse habitat preferences and behaviors that align with their physical adaptations and hunting strategies. Their environments range from dense forests to open grasslands, influencing how they live and hunt.
Buteos
Buteos often prefer open country such as deserts, grasslands, and agricultural fields. They scan for prey from high perches or while circling overhead. Red-tailed Hawks frequently perch on telephone poles or tall trees to spot small mammals like rodents and rabbits. They often hunt by pouncing on prey from a perch or by circling down from a high soar.
Accipiters
Accipiters are typically found in forested areas, where their agility allows them to maneuver through trees in pursuit of birds and small mammals. Cooper’s Hawks, for instance, hunt other birds and small mammals. They often employ a “dash and grab” hunting technique, relying on surprise attacks from a concealed position.
Harriers
Harriers, particularly the Northern Harrier, inhabit open wetlands, marshes, and grasslands. They hunt by flying low over the ground, often weaving back and forth with a buoyant, gliding flight. Northern Harriers primarily hunt on the wing, rarely from a perch. Most hawks are opportunistic feeders, preying on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects depending on availability.
Distinguishing Hawks from Look-Alikes
Distinguishing hawks from other birds of prey, such as falcons, eagles, and vultures, can be challenging due to their shared predatory characteristics. However, several key differences in size, wing shape, flight patterns, and head features can help differentiate them.
Falcons
Falcons belong to a different family (Falconidae) than hawks (Accipitridae). They typically have long, pointed wings and streamlined bodies, built for incredible speed, especially during dives. Hawks, conversely, have broader, more rounded wings and longer tails. Falcons often use a “tomial tooth” on their beak to sever the neck of their prey, while hawks primarily use their powerful talons to kill.
Eagles
Eagles are generally much larger and heavier than most hawks, with proportionally larger wingspans. Eagles typically have a stockier build. They often soar with their wings held flat or only slightly raised, giving a “plank-like” appearance. Eagles also tend to hunt larger prey due to their superior strength.
Vultures
Vultures are scavengers, primarily feeding on carrion, and exhibit distinct features compared to predatory hawks. Vultures typically have featherless heads, an adaptation that helps them stay clean while feeding on carcasses. In flight, Turkey Vultures often hold their wings in a pronounced V-shape and exhibit a wobbling flight pattern. Vultures are generally larger than most hawks and lack the powerful talons and sharp beaks designed for active hunting that characterize hawks.