Types of Hawks in Virginia — With Pictures!

Table of Contents

As a result, a wide range of species are able to survive and flourish in this area.

Broad-Winged Hawk

The broad-winged hawk is a compact species of hawk. Although they are one of the longer hawk species, they have a sturdy, boxy build. They have short wings and a blunt tail. This makes it relatively easy to identify them compared to more slender types of hawks in the United States.

Broad-winged hawks tend to favor densely forested areas over open grasslands and sparse landscapes. Consequently, spotting them during routine hawk-watching excursions can be challenging, and it's often necessary to actively search for them. Additionally, research indicates that this impressive hawk is facing a decline in population due to habitat loss.

Sometimes, outside of forests, you can spot them in two other locations. Firstly, they are often seen flying or resting along forest-lined roads. Secondly, during migration season, they can be found in coastal areas.

When it comes to migration, the broad-winged hawk seems to spend most of its time on the move. There are hardly any year-round populations of these hawks in the western hemisphere, not even in Virginia. The only places you can find them, regardless of the season, are in the Caribbean, such as Cuba and the surrounding islands. During the winter months, they travel even further south into South America. This means the best time to spot them in Virginia, alongside other hawks, is during their summer breeding season.

In some areas, it may also be best to observe them during their migration periods. Since they tend to migrate over open coastal areas, you may have a better opportunity to spot this type of hawk.

Cooper’s Hawk

Most of the birds in the study had suffered from fractures, which ultimately healed on their own.

One of the primary food sources for Cooper's hawks is smaller birds, such as doves and pigeons. Nevertheless, this diet comes with its own set of risks, particularly for younger hawks. These smaller birds, especially pigeons, can host parasites that can be hazardous to young Cooper's hawks.

They use their sharp talons to catch and kill their prey, unlike other types of hawks in Virginia that use their beaks after catching their prey. Although Cooper's hawks appear to sustain several types of injuries while flying, they minimize the risk whenever possible. One way they do this is by drowning their prey to quickly end the hunt.

Because of their fondness for pigeons, Cooper's hawks can often be seen in urban areas, despite being native to the forest. They also tend to prefer areas where small birds are plentiful, such as around bird feeders.

Cooper's hawks can be found throughout much of the United States for most of the year. During the summer, they may migrate north, while during the winter, they may move south. Still, there are many populations that remain in the same place year-round.

Northern Goshawk

The northern goshawk is considered a bird of nobility in the context of falconry. Falconry is a well-known hunting sport in which enthusiasts train large birds of prey, such as the northern goshawk, to hunt small game, including mice and rabbits. In medieval times, when falconry gained popularity, the northern goshawk was a prized bird that was only allowed to be used by royalty.

The northern goshawk is a relatively uncommon bird to spot in Virginia. Unlike other types of hawks found in the state, northern goshawks typically inhabit more northern regions. Nonetheless, a few can be found in Virginia, especially during the winter when it's too chilly for them to survive in the north.

It's not difficult to spot the northern goshawk, as they come in a range of colors, most often white and grey with dark stripes across their chest. In fact, some northern populations are almost entirely white. Their striking red eyes make them relatively easy to spot, even in Virginia, where they are relatively rare.

Northern Harrier

The red-shouldered hawk is the largest and most common type of hawk in Virginia.

One notable difference between northern harriers and other types of hawks is their preferred altitude. Even though northern harriers are capable of soaring above most trees, they tend to avoid doing so. Instead, you're more likely to spot them flying low over grasslands as they search for food. When they're not in the air, they'll often be seen perched on low-hanging branches or manmade structures.

Rough-Legged Hawk

The rough-legged hawk gets its name from one distinct feature that sets it apart from other hawks in Virginia. When compared to other hawks in the region, this bird is the only one with this characteristic. In fact, it's one of only a few bird species that possess this trait altogether! Are you curious to know what makes it unique? As their name might suggest, it's their feathered legs!

The golden eagle is truly unique among birds in this regard, and you won't find many, if any, other birds with this feature. While it may seem like an aesthetic choice, these extra feathers actually serve a purpose for the rough-legged hawk in its natural environment. This is because the rough-legged hawk is typically found in the far north of North America, in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, where the climate is quite cold. You can also spot them soaring alongside other types of hawks in Virginia during the winter months.

bones.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

The red-shouldered hawk is probably one of the most common types of hawks in Virginia, along with the red-tailed hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk, and Cooper's hawk. However, unlike many of these other types of hawks, you won't find the red-shouldered hawk thriving just anywhere in the United States. Instead, these birds of prey are actually quite picky about where they build their nests.

You don't usually think of birds in relation to water unless you're talking about seabirds. But that's exactly what you should do when it comes to red-shouldered hawks. These birds are known for constructing their nests in tall trees near water sources, such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and swamps. Consequently, they're a common species in the swampy southeastern United States.

Due to its surroundings, the red-shouldered hawk is known to have a highly varied diet. This includes typical prey such as snakes, rabbits, and mice, but it also includes animals like frogs, toads, and crawfish.

Red-Tailed Hawk

They can be easily mistaken for red-shouldered hawks while birdwatching, but they lack the distinctive checkered pattern of the red-shouldered hawk, and are actually much bigger than it as well.

Do you hear a screech on TV? Depending on the movies you watch, you may be very familiar with this sound. But, contrary to popular belief, it's not a bald eagle making that noise. In fact, the media industry often uses the red-tailed hawk's screech to imitate the bald eagle's screeching sound.

You can find the red-tailed hawk almost everywhere across North America, with most populations found in the United States and Canada. There are several different types of subspecies. Many of them appear similar, but some may differ in size and color.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

The Northern Harrier is actually the smallest type of hawk in Virginia. Not only that, but it's one of the smallest hawks in North America, as well as the smallest in the United States and Canada. While that spot technically goes to the male sharp-shinned hawk, which is much smaller than his female counterpart, both genders are still well below the size of the other hawks you've seen on this list.

Sharp-shinned hawks are often seen alongside Cooper's hawks. This is because, despite being small, their diet consists mainly of smaller birds. As a result, they frequently visit bird feeders. However, just like Cooper's hawks, they're not after the birdseed. Instead, sharp-shinned hawks, along with insects and small mammals, prefer to prey on the small songbirds that inhabit the area.

You'll also find that both male and female sharp-shinned hawks participate in childcare. At first, it appears that males bear the bulk of the responsibility for a few months, bringing back most of the food, but both parents eventually team up to instruct their young how to hunt in mid-air.

Follow A-Z Animals!

• I'd be happy to help, but it seems there's no text to paraphrase. Please provide the text you'd like me to paraphrase, and I'll be happy to assist you.
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!

Up Next:

• Hawks in Georgia: A Visual Guide
• Exploring the Various Species of Hawks Found in North Carolina
• 8. Osprey - A medium-sized hawk with a dark brown back and wings, and a white underside with

.