BIRD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE: HAWKS

COMMON FAMILY/ SIMILAR TELLTALE OTHER NAME SUBGROUP TO MARKINGS CHARACTERISTICS

Sharp-shinned Accipitridae Cooper’s hawk Shorter, squared Smallest accipter; dark back w/ hawk (Accipter) tail; may be slightly rusty barred breast; common notched Cooper’s hawk Accipitridae Sharp-shinned Tail longer and Dark back w/ rusty barred breast; (Accipter) hawk well-rounded White tail stripe broader/more prominent Northern Accipitridae Broad white eye Largest accipter; dark back w/ pale goshawk (Accipter) stripe gray barred underparts; uncommon

Common Accipitridae Single broad white Black hawk w/short, broad tail; in blackhawk (Buteo) band across middle flight, white spot obvious near wing of tail tip at the base of primaries Zone-tailed Accipitridae Common Broad white tail Black hawk w/slimmer wings hawk (Buteo) blackhawk bands Gray hawk Accipitridae Gray back w/gray barred (Buteo) underparts; white rump

Swainson’s Accipitridae Dark bib; Buff Long,narrow,pointed wings hawk (Buteo) colored wing linings w/contrasting dark flight feathers Red-tailed hawk Accipitridae Rufous-colored tail (Buteo) (topside); dark bar on leading edge of underwing Harris hawk Accipitridae White rump Black/chocolate brown overall (Buteo) w/white tail band; chestnut color on shoulders, wing linings and thighs Ferruginous Accipitridae Rusty “v” formed Body rufous above, whitish below hawk (Buteo) by thighs, tail whitish or pale rufous Rough-legged Accipitridae Golden eagle, Black patch on Dark body; long, narrow wings; hawk (Buteo) northern harrier wrists of underwing dark,broad cummerbund across (female) (juveniles and lgt belly apparent in some birds morph); white tail w/broad, dark band (all color morphs)

Bald eagle Accipitridae White head and We know what it looks like :) (Accipitrinae) tail;large yellow bill Immature has dark head and bill Golden eagle Accipitridae Juvenile bald Wash of gold color Dark colored bird (Accipitrinae) eagle (has on the back of the blotchier tail & neck; white tail underwing w/broad, dark pattern; golden terminal band tail is distinctly banded)

Families and Subgroups

ACCIPITRIDAE KITES, HAWKS and EAGLES: Diurnal birds of prey with hooked bills and strong talons. Males usually smaller than females.

Accipitrinae Subfamily that includes eagles. These birds are bigger than buteos. Bills are almost as long as the head.

Accipters Agile woodland hawks with long tails and short, rounded wings

Buteos Hawks that soar high in the air. Usually have broad, banded tails and rounded wings. Females usually larger. Dark morphs common.

BIRD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE: HAWKS

COMMON FAMILY/ SIMILAR TELLTALE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS NAME SUBGROUP TO MARKINGS

Sharp-shinned Accipitridae Cooper’s hawk Shorter, squared tail; Smallest accipter; dark back w/ rusty hawk (Accipter) may be slightly barred breast; common notched Cooper’s hawk Accipitridae Sharp-shinned Tail longer and well- Dark back w/ rusty barred breast; (Accipter) hawk rounded White tail stripe broader/more prominent Northern goshawk Accipitridae Broad white eye stripe Largest accipter; dark back w/ pale gray (Accipter) barred underparts; uncommon

Common Accipitridae Single broad white Black hawk w/short, broad tail; in flight, blackhawk (Buteo) band across middle of white spot obvious near wing tip at the tail base of primaries Zone-tailed hawk Accipitridae Common Broad white tail bands Black hawk w/slimmer wings (Buteo) blackhawk Gray hawk Accipitridae Gray back w/gray barred underparts; (Buteo) white rump

Swainson’s hawk Accipitridae Dark bib; Buff colored Long,narrow,pointed wings (Buteo) wing linings w/contrasting dark flight feathers Red-tailed hawk Accipitridae Rufous-colored tail (Buteo) (topside); dark bar on leading edge of underwing Harris hawk Accipitridae White rump w/white tail Black/chocolate brown overall (Buteo) band; chestnut color on shoulders, wing linings and thighs Ferruginous hawk Accipitridae Rusty “v” formed by Body rufous above, whitish below (Buteo) thighs, tail whitish or pale rufous Rough-legged Accipitridae Golden eagle, Black patch on wrists Dark body; long, narrow wings; hawk (Buteo) northern harrier of underwing (juveniles dark,broad cummerbund across belly (female) and lgt morph); white apparent in some birds tail w/broad, dark band (all color morphs)

Bald eagle Accipitridae White head and We know what it looks like :) (Accipitrinae) tail;large yellow bill Immature has dark head and bill Golden eagle Accipitridae Juvenile bald Wash of gold color on Dark colored bird (Accipitrinae) eagle (has the back of the neck; blotchier tail & white tail w/broad, dark underwing terminal band pattern; golden tail is distinctly banded)

Families and Subgroups

ACCIPITRIDAE KITES, HAWKS and EAGLES: Diurnal birds of prey with hooked bills and strong talons. Males usually smaller than females.

Accipitrinae Subfamily that includes eagles. These birds are bigger than buteos. Bills are almost as long as the head.

Accipters Agile woodland hawks with long tails and short, rounded wings

Buteos Hawks that soar high in the air. Usually have broad, banded tails and rounded wings. Females usually larger. Dark morphs common.