I Need Help Identifying a Hawk

When you spot what you think may be a species of hawk in North America, consider various aspects of the bird to make it easier to identify what type it is. In most instances, you will not see hawks up close, which allows you to observe their specific colors and markings. You can estimate size from a distance though, as well as take into account whether you live in a certain hawk's range, its habitat and other features that may help you identify the raptor.

Things You'll Need

  • Binoculars
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Instructions

    • 1

      Estimate the size of a hawk, whether on the wing or perched in a tree or elsewhere. The larger hawks such as the ferruginous hawk, red-tailed hawk and rough-legged hawk are as long as 24 inches. Smaller hawks in the range of 14 inches include the sharp-shinned hawk, broad-winged hawk and short-tailed hawk. Wingspans of hawks are somewhat easier to estimate; species such as the red-shouldered hawk have wingspans between 36 and 44 inches, as opposed to the smaller wingspan of a species such as the broad-winged hawk.

    • 2

      Look at range maps to determine what hawks are potential visitors or residents in your region. Eliminate specific species that do not inhabit your region or migrate through it on the way to and from their breeding grounds. For example, the red-shouldered hawk lives in the eastern half of the United States and in California; you would not see one in other areas of the continent.

    • 3

      Use the habitat in which you see a hawk to your advantage. Different hawk species, even though their ranges overlap, prefer different habitats. The red-shouldered hawk favors bogs and swampy woods, where it can watch for and capture the frogs and snakes it eats. Swainson's hawk of the American West lives in open plains and grasslands where it can spot rodents and grasshoppers. The northern goshawk lives mainly in coniferous forests throughout its range, where it hunts for grouse.

    • 4

      Observe the tails of hawks when in flight. Determine the shape of the tail if possible to aid in your identification. Species such as the Cooper's hawk feature a rounded tail, while hawks like the sharp-shinned hawk have a tail tip that appears square.

    • 5

      Study the colors of hawks or their markings. Look for specific features unique to certain hawks. The tail of a red-tailed hawk has a rusty-red look, especially when viewed while the bird is in flight. The white-tailed hawk of southern Texas has a black band highlighted on its white tail. Harris' hawk is mostly black, with a white tip on its tail.