New Jersey serves as a year-round home for several raptor species and a major stopover point along one of the continent’s migratory pathways. The state’s diverse geography, which includes dense northern forests, Appalachian mountain ridges, and the Atlantic coastline, creates varied ecosystems where these birds of prey thrive. Hawks, eagles, and falcons navigate New Jersey’s skies, utilizing its habitats, from urban centers to remote marshlands, for hunting and breeding. This location on the Atlantic Flyway makes New Jersey a spectacular place to observe the annual movements and resident populations of these raptors.
Year-Round Hawk Species in New Jersey
The most commonly sighted resident raptor, the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), is a large, adaptable bird found across open fields, along highways, and even in suburban areas year-round. Adults are easily recognized by their broad, rounded wings and the reddish-brown coloration on the top of their tails. When perched, a dark band of streaks across the pale belly, known as the “belly band,” is a useful identifying feature. Red-tailed Hawks use thermal air currents to conserve energy as they scan the ground for small mammals.
The Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) prefers wooded habitats and is often seen in suburban backyards hunting at bird feeders. This crow-sized raptor has a long, rounded tail and short, rounded wings, allowing it to maneuver through dense forest canopies. Adult Cooper’s Hawks display a blue-gray back and a rusty-barred chest, with a distinctly large head that projects far past the wings in flight. They nest in tall trees within deciduous or mixed forests, building stick nests that they may return to annually.
The Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is found in wet deciduous woodlands near swamps, rivers, or marshes. They are slightly smaller and slimmer than the Red-tailed Hawk, with a heavily barred tail and a distinctive black-and-white checkered pattern on their wings. These raptors have a loud, repetitive call often heard in the forest, and they are seen along wooded waterways. Their year-round presence and preference for water bodies make them a good indicator of healthy wetland ecosystems.
Seasonal Migrants and Passage Raptors
New Jersey’s skies are filled with seasonal migrants, particularly during the autumn months. The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a small, stout raptor that provides one of the most spectacular migration events, typically peaking in mid-September. These hawks travel in massive, swirling flocks called “kettles,” sometimes numbering in the thousands. They use columns of rising warm air called thermals to glide south toward Central and South America, often following the Kittatinny Ridge in the northwestern part of the state.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), a smaller relative of the Cooper’s Hawk, has a long, square-tipped tail and short, rounded wings. These raptors pass through in large numbers during September and October, originating from breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States. Sharp-shinned Hawks are frequently counted along the coast as they push south, utilizing the Atlantic shoreline as a leading line before crossing large bodies of water.
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), often called the “fish hawk,” returns to New Jersey’s shore in mid-March to breed. After raising their young on large stick nests, typically atop artificial platforms, the adults and juveniles begin migrating south to South America in late August and early September. This species is easily identified by its white head with a dark eye stripe and its habit of hovering before plunging feet-first into the water to catch fish. The peak of Osprey migration at coastal areas like Cape May occurs around the first week of October.
Identification Tips and Prime Viewing Locations
Identifying hawks in flight relies on their silhouette and flight style, which fall into two main categories: Buteos and Accipiters. Buteos, like the Red-tailed and Broad-winged Hawks, are broad-winged, heavy-bodied hawks built for soaring, often circling high on thermals. Accipiters, such as the Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, have short, rounded wings and long tails, favoring a rapid dash-and-glide flight pattern that enables them to weave through wooded cover. The Sharp-shinned Hawk appears small-headed with a square-tipped tail, while the Cooper’s Hawk is larger with a rounded tail edge.
New Jersey offers hawk-watching opportunities along its two major flyways. For observing the ridge-following Broad-winged Hawk kettles, prime locations are found along the Kittatinny Ridge in the northwest. These include Raccoon Ridge and the State Line Lookout on the Palisades. These sites are best visited on days immediately following a cold front when northwest winds push the raptors along the ridgeline.
For coastal viewing of migrating Accipiters, falcons, and Ospreys, Cape May Point State Park is a primary location. Raptors funnel down the peninsula, hesitant to cross the Delaware Bay, making the point a concentration spot from September through November. Other productive viewing areas include Sandy Hook and the Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch at Merrill Creek Reservoir.