Hawks construct nests for raising their young. Identifying them provides insight into their breeding behaviors and presence in ecosystems. Understanding their distinct features helps appreciate these birds and their role in the natural world.
Key Characteristics of Hawk Nests
Hawk nests are large, bulky structures, often described as bowl-shaped or platform-like. A common example, the Red-tailed Hawk nest, can measure 28 to 36 inches (71-76 cm) in diameter externally, with an interior cup averaging 10 to 13 cm deep. Nests are primarily built from interwoven sticks and twigs, forming a sturdy base.
The nest’s inner part is lined with softer materials, providing cushioning and insulation for eggs and hatchlings. Common lining materials include bark strips, fresh foliage, pine needles, leaves, moss, fur, grass, and sometimes even corn cob husks. Both male and female hawks contribute to the construction or renovation of the nest, a process that can take 4 to 7 days.
Hawks place nests high in tall trees, often in the crown or a strong crotch where major branches fork, offering a commanding view. While they show adaptability, using artificial structures like towers or billboards if trees are scarce, tall, large-diameter trees with healthy canopies are preferred. Nests can be reused for several years, becoming larger and more substantial with each breeding season as new materials are added.
Distinguishing Hawk Nests from Other Nests
Differentiating hawk nests from other birds’ nests involves observing their size, construction, and placement. Hawk nests are large, stick-built structures, distinct from the smaller, more haphazard nests of other species. They are often found in the main fork of a tree or on sturdy branches close to the trunk.
Owl nests often appear less elaborate, sometimes being a simple depression in an old hawk or squirrel nest, or within a natural tree cavity. In contrast, hawk nests are more robust and built with intention. Squirrel dreys, on the other hand, are smaller, more spherical, and primarily constructed from leaves and twigs, appearing less sturdy than the open, bowl-shaped hawk nests.
Crow and raven nests are made of sticks but are smaller and less bulky than most hawk nests. Their placement might also differ, often being in smaller trees or more exposed locations. Signs of an active hawk nest include down feathers stuck to the twigs, molted feathers near or under the tree, and freshly broken twigs. Whitewash (bird droppings) on foliage below or around the nest, along with regurgitated pellets or prey remains, also indicate an active nest.
Common Hawk Species and Their Nests
While general characteristics apply, variations exist among hawk species’ nests. Red-tailed Hawk nests are often large and conspicuous, frequently situated in isolated tall trees, providing an expansive view of their territory. These nests can be robust, sometimes measuring up to 6.5 feet high if refurbished over many years.
Red-shouldered Hawks, found in deciduous forests, particularly near water, build stick nests about 2 feet in diameter. They often line these nests with bark, moss, lichens, and conifer sprigs, and will continue to add fresh green leaves throughout the nesting season. Cooper’s Hawk nests are smaller than those of larger hawks like Red-tailed Hawks, measuring 27 inches in diameter and 6-17 inches high. These nests are frequently located in denser tree stands, often about two-thirds of the way up a tree in a crotch or on a horizontal branch, and are lined with bark flakes and sometimes green twigs.
Sharp-shinned Hawk nests are smaller, broad, flat masses of twigs, often conifer twigs, lined with bark flakes. These nests are well-hidden, placed under dense forest cover towards the top of a tall conifer tree, but well within the canopy. Osprey, while not true hawks, are often confused with them due to their raptor status and large stick nests. Osprey nests are distinctive for often being near water sources, often built on platforms or dead trees. Despite these minor variations, the fundamental characteristics of large, stick-built nests in high locations remain consistent across most hawk species.