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.
NORTHERN RED-TAILED
PEREGRINE 17 - 22” length
GOSHAWK 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
9 - 12” length
HAWK • Black tail with narrow, white bands.
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
SHARP-SHINNED • Smallest buteo; crow size.
KESTREL • Short tail with equal black and white bands.
8 - 11” length HAWK
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.
REGIONAL SPECIALTIES
WESTERN
OSPREY
21 - 26” length SOUTHERN
. Eagle sized; clean, white body. FERRUGINOUS
. Black wrist marks. HAWK
. Glides with kink (M) in long, narrow wings. . Largest buteo; eagle-like.
20 - 26” length
MISSISSIPPI
. Pale below with dark leggings.
KITE . Mostly white tail; 3 color morphs.
. Long, pointed wings;
13 - 15” length
. Light body; dark wings;
slim body.
narrow,
Not to scale. . Buoyant, acrobatic flight.
black tail.
NORTHERN
HARRIER
16 - 20” length
PRAIRIE FALCON
. 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. 14 - 18” length
. 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
greatly in the amount
GOLDEN EAGLE of white spotting on
27 to 35” length
. body and wings.
White showing on wing linings is surely a Bald Eagle.
BALD EAGLE
. Like large buteo, curvy wings.
. Head protrudes much less
. Slight
than tail.
dihedral to wing profile.
NOTE: Some hawks soar and glide with their wings raised above the . Head and tail length similar.
horizontal, called a dihedral.
27 to 35” length
. 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
a membership-based, non-profit organization committed to the
. Dark wing
Turkey Vulture
. Smalllinings with light flight feathers.
head; long tail; sharp dihedral.
conservation of raptors through the scientific study, enjoyment, and
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
to identify hawks; to purchase a durable, laminated printed version
. Small head;
Black Vulture
. White primary patches; wings held flat; stiff wing beats.
shorter wings and tail than TV. of this guide; or to support raptor conservation, visit [Link].
Copyright 2009, HMANA