Hawk Species in California

California extends across several climate zones, and this affects the species which live in the different ecosystems created by these climate zones. This includes the various species of birds, including the hawk species. Professor E. Fred Legner of the University of California in Riverside has recorded 13 different types of hawks in California, but the species database of the California Department of Fish and Game contains several more species which have been observed in the state. They belong to four main genii, a scientific classification of living things.

  1. Accipiter Genus Hawks

    • The Accipiter genus contains many California hawks, such as the Coopers Hawk, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and the Apache Northern Goshawk. These hawks roost and nest in intermediate to high-canopy forest. They eat mostly small birds, usually no larger than jays, and also take small mammals, large insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

    Buteo and Parabuteo Genus Hawks

    • The Buteo genus hawks are distributed across all of the American continent, and contain species such as the White-tailed Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Gray Hawk, Gray Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Swainson's Hawk. Hawks of the Buteo genus eat small mammals, snakes, lizards, amphibians, small or young birds, and large insects. They search for prey from perches in trees and on snags.

    Circus Genus Hawks

    • In California, the only native hawk species of the Circus genus is the Northern Harrier. It is common all along the California coast. Northern Harriers breed and forage in a variety of open habitats without trees. In California, this includes freshwater marshes, brackish and saltwater marshes, desert sinks, wet meadows, lake border lands, grasslands, fields and grazed pastures, and sagebrush flats.

    Parabuteo Genus Hawks

    • Of the hawk species native to California, the Parabuteo genus contains only the Harris Hawk. This hawk is found in the Lower Colorado River Valley from near Needles to the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. A few birds are breeding around the Salton Sea. The Harris Hawk hunts from perches on small trees or saguaro cactuses, and feeds on hares and rabbits, birds, and lizards. Up to six individuals have been known to hunt together, the most sophisticated cooperative hunting tactics documented in birds.