Florida’s diverse ecosystems support a rich array of avian life, including many raptors, or birds of prey. These powerful birds are a captivating part of Florida’s natural environment, attracting observers to witness their aerial displays.
Common Hawk Species in Florida
Florida is home to several common hawk species, each with distinct characteristics.
The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, widely recognized hawk, known for its broad wings and brick-red tail feathers.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized raptor, typically displaying reddish shoulders and chest, with black and white banding on its wings and tail.
The Broad-winged Hawk is a smaller buteo, about the size of a crow, characterized by a broad white band on its dark tail.
The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized accipiter with a bluish-gray back and a rust-white belly, possessing short, rounded wings and a long tail. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America, resembling the Cooper’s Hawk but notably smaller and more compact.
The Osprey, often called a “fish hawk,” is a large, distinctive raptor with dark brown upperparts and a contrasting white underside and head, specializing in catching fish.
Identifying Florida’s Hawks
Distinguishing between Florida’s hawk species involves observing several key features, including their size, plumage, and flight patterns.
The Red-tailed Hawk, the largest hawk commonly found in the state, is often larger than a crow. Adults are identified by their reddish-brown tail, visible from above and below. In flight, they soar in wide circles on broad, rounded wings, often holding them in a slight “V” shape. Their pale undersides frequently display a dark belly band.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized raptor, smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk. Adults have a reddish-rust colored chest and shoulders, with striking black and white banding on their wings and tail, visible when soaring. Florida’s subspecies may have a paler head and lighter chest barring. Their distinctive “kee-yrrr” call is often heard before the bird is seen.
Broad-winged Hawks are compact and crow-sized, the smallest buteo hawks. Adults have a dark brown back and a pale, horizontally barred chest; juveniles show vertical brown streaks. A key identifier in flight is the broad white band on their tail. They migrate in large, swirling groups called “kettles.”
Cooper’s Hawks are medium-sized accipiters with a slate-gray back and a rust-colored, barred belly. They have short, rounded wings and a long, often banded tail. These agile fliers navigate dense cover in pursuit of prey.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest accipiter, appearing compact and fast. It shares a bluish-gray back and rust-white belly with the Cooper’s Hawk, but is smaller with a more compact head. Like Cooper’s Hawks, they have short, rounded wings and a long tail for quick maneuvers.
The Osprey, a fish-eating specialist, is identified by its unique appearance and flight. It is a large raptor with dark brown upperparts and a pure white head and underside, marked by a dark eye stripe. In flight, their long, narrow wings are held with a distinctive “M” or “gull-like” bend. They often hover before plunging feet-first into water to catch fish.
Habitats and Behavior
Florida’s varied landscapes provide diverse habitats for its hawk populations, influencing their behavior and hunting strategies.
Red-tailed Hawks are adaptable, found in open fields, woodland edges, and urban environments. They often perch on telephone poles or tall trees, surveying the ground for small mammals like voles, rats, and rabbits, which are a significant part of their diet.
Red-shouldered Hawks prefer forested areas, including pine, oak, and cypress forests, especially near water sources. They are also seen in suburban neighborhoods with ample tree cover. These hawks typically hunt from perches, gliding down to capture small mammals, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. They often reuse their nests year after year.
Broad-winged Hawks primarily inhabit dense deciduous or mixed forests, often near clearings for foraging. While some are year-round residents, many migrate south, wintering in southern Florida. During migration, they form large “kettles,” spiraling flocks that use rising thermal air currents to conserve energy. Their diet includes small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
Cooper’s Hawks are typically found in woodlands and field edges, where their agile flight allows them to pursue birds. They are skilled at hunting birds in flight, using their maneuverability within dense tree canopies. Sharp-shinned Hawks, being smaller, also favor forested areas and dense thickets, often ambushing small songbirds near feeders.
Ospreys are primarily found near water, including coastal areas, large lakes, rivers, and swamps, as their diet consists almost entirely of fish. They construct large stick nests on tall trees, utility poles, or other structures over or near water. Ospreys hunt by hovering over water and plunging feet-first to snatch fish with specialized talons.
Distinguishing Hawks from Other Raptors
Differentiating true hawks from other raptors in Florida involves understanding the broader categories of birds of prey. Raptors include hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, and owls, each with unique adaptations. Hawks, generally categorized as buteos (broad-winged, soaring hawks) and accipiters (shorter-winged, agile bird hunters), have specific body shapes and flight styles.
Falcons, such as the American Kestrel or Peregrine Falcon, are characterized by pointed wings and swift, direct flight, often with rapid wing beats or high-speed dives. This contrasts with the broader, rounded wings and soaring flight common among many hawk species. Eagles, like the Bald Eagle, are significantly larger than most hawks, with immense wingspans and robust bodies.
Vultures, including the Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture, are primarily scavengers, distinguished by featherless heads and a tendency to soar with wings held in a pronounced “V” shape, often wobbling. Owls are nocturnal hunters, identified by forward-facing eyes, flat facial discs, and silent flight from specialized feather structures. These distinctions help identify Florida’s diverse raptor community.