REGIONAL SPECIALTIES WESTERN
OSPREY 21 - 26” length SOUTHERN . FERRUGINOUS . Eagle sized; clean, white body. HAWK Black wrist marks. 20 - 26” length . Glides with kink (M) in long, narrow wings. MISSISSIPPI . Largest buteo; eagle-like. KITE . Pale below with dark leggings. 13 - 15” length . Mostly white tail; 3 color morphs. . Long, pointed wings; slim body. . Light body; dark wings; narrow, black tail. Not to scale. . Buoyant, acrobatic flight. NORTHERN HARRIER 16 - 20” length PRAIRIE FALCON 14 - 18” length . Long, narrow wings and tail; sharp dihedral. . Size of Peregrine; much paler plumage. . Brown above, streaked brown below – female. . Narrow moustache; spotted breast; long tail. . Gray above, pale below with black wing tips – male. . Dark armpits and partial wing linings.
WING PROFILE IMMATURE BALD EAGLE
BALD EAGLE
GOLDEN EAGLE . Immature birds vary GOLDEN EAGLE greatly in the amount 27 to 35” length of white spotting on body and wings. . White showing on wing linings is surely a Bald Eagle.
BALD EAGLE
. Like large buteo, curvy wings. . Head protrudes much less than tail. . Slight dihedral to wing profile. NOTE: Some hawks soar and glide with their wings raised above the horizontal, called a dihedral. 27 to 35” length . Head and tail length similar. . Long, flat wings. . Straight leading edge to wings.
24 to 28” length This guide developed by Paul Carrier is the property of the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). HMANA is Turkey Vulture a membership-based, non-profit organization committed to the . Dark wing linings with light flight feathers. conservation of raptors through the scientific study, enjoyment, and . Small head; long tail; sharp dihedral. appreciation of raptor migration. Individuals may download and print single copies of this guide for personal, non-commercial use. All other rights are reserved. For more information on hawk migration and 23 to 28” length hawk watching in North America, including more information on how Black Vulture to identify hawks; to purchase a durable, laminated printed version . Small head; shorter wings and tail than TV. of this guide; or to support raptor conservation, visit www.hmana.org. . White primary patches; wings held flat; stiff wing beats. Copyright 2009, HMANA A GUIDE TO HAWKS SEEN IN NORTH AMERICA These are migrants seen in most of North America. Because many species differ in appearance due to age and various light and dark morphs, especially in the west, only the adult of the most common form is illustrated.
KNOW YOUR SILHOUETTES
FALCONS BUTEOS Streamlined – long, pointed wings; long, ACCIPITERS Broad wings and broad, rounded tail; tapered tail; strong rowing wing beats; Short, wide, rounded wings; long tail; often seen soaring in wide circles high wings look less pointed and tail less flap–flap–flap–glide flight. in the air. tapered when not in direct flight.
RED-TAILED PEREGRINE NORTHERN GOSHAWK 17 - 22” length HAWK FALCON 18 - 24” length • Unmarked light-to-red tail; 9 morphs. 14 - 18” length • Pale underbody; gray upperparts. • Light breast; variably streaked belly band. • Light breast and throat. • Prominent white undertail coverts. • Dark leading edge to wing; shallow dihedral. • Crow size. • Heavy body; larger than crow. • Quick, powerful wingbeats.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK MERLIN COOPER’S 15 - 18” length HAWK • Black tail with narrow, white bands. 9 - 12” length 14 - 19” length • Dark wing linings. • Banded tail. • Rusty underparts. • Crescent “windows” near tip of wing. • Dark; heavily streaked underneath. • Round–tipped, long tail. • Fast, direct flight. • Near size of crow; stiff wing beats.
BROAD-WINGED AMERICAN 13 - 17” length HAWK • Smallest buteo; crow size. KESTREL SHARP-SHINNED HAWK • Short tail with equal black and white bands. 8 - 11” length 9 - 13” length • Whitish underwings with dark trailing edge. • Light underneath; size of jay; buoyant flight. • Rusty underparts. • Tail: rufous - male; reddish, barred brown -female. • Square or notched tail tip. • Wings above: blue-male; barred brown-female. • Near size of jay; floppy wing beats.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 18 - 23” length • Dark belly (most); dark wrists; strong dihedral. GYRFALCON • Tail white; 1 or more dark subterminal bands. • Dark morph: dark body and wing linings.
19 - 24” length • Robust body; larger than Peregrine. • 3 color morphs. • Rare Arctic visitor.
NOTE: Some hawks soar and glide with their SWAINSON’S wings raised above the horizontal, called HAWK a dihedral. 17 - 22” length • Dark breast and flight feathers. • White belly and wing linings; 3 morphs. • Soars with strong dihedral.