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Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

28 Bird Species

Roadside Hawk

This small buteo is recognized by its long tail and legs, and short wings. The upperparts are a uniform brownish-gray. The tail has bold dark bands and a whitish tip. The head is highlighted by large yellow eyes, yellow facial skin and a yellow cere. The breast shows a solid gray bib, while the belly more...

Length: 33 cm Wingspan: 69 cm

Rough-legged Hawk

This arctic buteo shows sexual dimorphism as well as both light and dark morphs. Common elements to watch for in all plumages include a small bill and feet, legs feathered all the way to the toes, a very dark belly, and a pale-based tail with a dark subterminal band. At rest, the wingtips of adults e more...

Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 122 cm

Sharp-shinned Hawk

This little accipiter is similar in plumage to Cooper’s Hawk, but is smaller overall (about the size of a jay), and proportionally smaller headed and shorter tailed. Females are significantly larger than males and in size may overlap slightly with the smallest male Cooper’s Hawks. Adult: Upperpar more...

Length: 25 cm Wingspan: 51 cm

Short-tailed Hawk

This small tropical buteo is regular in the U.S. only in Florida. At rest, the wingtips extend to the tip of the tail. In all plumages, the undersides of the outer primaries are white, contrasting with the darker inner primaries and secondaries. The broad wings make the tail appear shorter. A white p more...

Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 81 cm

Snail Kite

This kite is recognized in all plumages by its long broad wings, dark tail with white base and tip, and its thin sharply-curved bill. Males are dark slate gray with blackish flight feathers. The legs and cere are reddish orange. Females are browner overall with pale streaking on the underparts. The p more...

Length: 41 cm Wingspan: 104 cm

Steller's Sea-Eagle

This enormous raptor is recognized by its huge size (dwarfs a Bald Eagle), massive yellow bill, long wedge-shaped tail, and striking plumage pattern. Adult: Dark brown with paler streaks on the head and neck, and a small white patch at the base of the forehead. White wing coverts form a single large more...

Length: 107 cm Wingspan: 218 cm

Swainson's Hawk

When perched, this long-winged Buteo appears sleek and falcon-like. Their wingtips extend just past the tip of the tail at rest, and appear long and pointed in flight. Highly variable in appearance, with lots of intermediate plumage expressions between the typical light-moprh and dark-morph birds. Th more...

Length: 48 cm Wingspan: 117 cm

Swallow-tailed Kite

Unlike any other raptor in North America, this species is instantly recognizable by its unique shape and strong pattern. The head and underparts are pristine white. Upperparts are black, with a blue-gray cast. Exceptionally long wings and tail give this species a small-headed look. In flight, the dor more...

Length: 48 cm Wingspan: 114 cm

White-tailed Eagle

Dark brown overall, with buffy head blending into the dark breast. The tail is white and slightly wedge-shaped. Juvenile is similar to young Bald Eagle, but with less white under the wings and a tail consisting of dark feathers with pale centers. In flight, seven notched primaries are visible on the more...

Length: 79 cm Wingspan: 183 cm

White-tailed Hawk

On perched birds, the wingtips of this species extend well beyond the tip of the tail. Adult birds are gray above, with blackish wing feathers and a bold rufous patch on the shoulder. The underparts are white and unmarked, while the tail is white with a black subterminal band. In flight, white wing c more...

Length: 51 cm Wingspan: 119 cm

White-tailed Kite

This dainty raptor is easily recognized by its bold pattern and flight style. The upperparts are pearly gray with large black epaulets. Females are slightly darker than males. The white tail extends beyond the end of the primaries. The face and underparts are bright white, with a small blackish patch more...

Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 102 cm

Zone-tailed Hawk

This long-winged raptor bears a striking resemblance to Turkey Vulture in both plumage and flight style. Adult: Black overall with yellow cere and legs. Tail is black with a broad pale subterminal band and several thinner pale bands. In flight, black underwing coverts contrast with grayish flight fea more...

Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 119 cm

Non-vegetated Areas

4 species

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Alpine Slopes, Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows, Boreal Forest

Salt Water

7 species

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Estuaries and Bays, Rocky Shores, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Coastal Dunes, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows, Boreal Forest

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs, Ponds and Rivers, Boreal Forest

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Coastal Dunes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands

Human-altered Areas

8 species

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Roadside Hawk

Rupornis magnirostris

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Boreal Forest, Northern Wooded Swamps, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Fresh Water

10 species

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Streams and Brooks, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Coastal Dunes, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest

Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Fresh Water Marshes

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs, Ponds and Rivers, Boreal Forest

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Coastal Dunes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands

Grassland and Scrubland

17 species

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands

Crane Hawk

Geranospiza caerulescens

Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Boreal Forest, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Coastal Dunes, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Roadside Hawk

Rupornis magnirostris

Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows, Boreal Forest

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Open Country and Grasslands

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Coastal Dunes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Forest and Woodlands

21 species