Southern California’s diverse landscape, spanning deserts, mountains, and coastal areas, provides habitat for numerous species of raptors. These birds of prey, often called hawks, are categorized into distinct groups based on their physical structure and hunting style. Understanding the common types, from large, high-soaring birds to smaller, agile hunters, helps residents and visitors appreciate the region’s rich ornithological environment. Major hawk populations in SoCal include species that reside here year-round and those that visit seasonally during migration.
Year-Round Residents: The Soaring Buteos
The Buteo group, characterized by broad wings and a stocky build, includes the most commonly observed hawks in Southern California. They are masters of soaring flight. The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most widespread and recognizable raptor across the continent, adapting readily to habitats from open country to urban peripheries. This species is often seen perched on exposed utility poles or high-rise structures, using its vantage point to scan for rodents and other small prey. Distinguishing features include the adult’s namesake reddish-brown tail and a characteristic dark band of streaking across the pale belly, referred to as the “belly band.”
Another common local Buteo is the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), which prefers moister, wooded environments like riparian areas and oak woodlands. Adults display a striking appearance with rusty-red barring on the chest and underparts, along with black and white barring on the wings and tail. Unlike Red-tailed Hawks, the Red-shouldered Hawk often hunts from lower perches inside or near the tree canopy, focusing on amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. This species has successfully moved into suburban neighborhoods where tall trees and water sources are present.
Year-Round Residents: The Agile Accipiters
Accipiters are forest hawks, built for agility and speed with short, rounded wings and a long tail that acts as a rudder for navigating dense cover. Southern California is home to two primary Accipiters: the Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). Both species are specialized bird hunters, relying on rapid bursts of speed and the ability to maneuver through thick branches. They are frequently attracted to suburban areas where they ambush smaller birds visiting backyard feeders.
Differentiating the two species can be challenging, as the female Sharp-shinned Hawk is similar in size to the male Cooper’s Hawk. A key structural difference is the shape of the tail: the Cooper’s Hawk tail is noticeably rounded at the tip, while the Sharp-shinned Hawk’s tail is more squared or notched. The Cooper’s Hawk also has a larger, more blocky head that extends past the wings in flight, giving it a more proportional look. In contrast, the Sharp-shinned Hawk often appears small-headed with a “bug-eyed” look due to its large eyes relative to its head size.
Seasonal Migrants and Rare Sightings
Southern California serves as a flyway or wintering ground for several other raptors. The Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) is a long-distance migrant that passes through the region, often in massive flocks. These hawks breed further north and travel to South America for the winter, appearing in Southern California during the spring and fall migration periods. They are visually distinct with long, relatively pointed wings and a dark chest contrasting with a lighter belly.
The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), the largest of North America’s Buteos, is a winter visitor to the open grasslands, deserts, and agricultural fields of SoCal. These raptors arrive around September and depart by mid-April, spending the colder months hunting ground squirrels and jackrabbits. They occur in both a light morph, which is strikingly pale underneath with rusty-red leg feathers, and a rarer dark morph. This species often hunts from the ground or low perches like haystacks and isolated power poles.
Practical Identification Tips for the General Public
Identifying a hawk begins with observing its silhouette and style of flight, which are the most reliable clues for grouping raptors. Buteos, such as the Red-tailed Hawk, exhibit broad, paddle-shaped wings and a relatively short tail, built for sustained, high-altitude soaring in wide circles. Conversely, Accipiters, like the Cooper’s Hawk, display short, rounded wings and a long, slender tail. This structure supports their rapid flight pattern, characterized by a distinctive “flap-flap-glide” motion.
The location and behavior of the bird offer additional details for identification. If a large hawk is perched conspicuously on an exposed telephone pole or soaring high over open country, it is most likely a Buteo, especially the Red-tailed Hawk. If a smaller hawk is seen darting rapidly through dense backyard trees or hiding in the cover of a woodlot, it is almost certainly an Accipiter. Size comparison to familiar birds can also help: a Cooper’s Hawk is roughly the size of a crow, while a Sharp-shinned Hawk is closer to the size of a large robin or pigeon.