Have you seen a hawk fly high over Florida’s colorful landscapes, its wings cutting through the air with ease? Hawks in Florida are more than simply birds. They are symbols of strength, freedom, and the wild beauty of the state.
Bird watchers, nature enthusiasts, and even individuals who are simply passing by find these birds interesting. You may see them in the verdant Everglades and in crowded city parks.
This book will take you deep through the world of the Sunshine State hawks, including their types, homes, habits, and how to protect them. You can find out all you need to know about Florida’s hawks, whether you’re an expert birdwatcher or simply want to find out about these birds of prey in flight. The information is better organized for both readers and search engines.
“The hawk’s sharp eye sees beyond the horizon and guides those who want to know more.” – Chief Seattle
Important Key Points:
- Florida is home to several different types of hawks, such as the Red-shouldered Hawk, the Red-tailed Hawk, and the Cooper’s Hawk.
- Hawks do well in many different places, including as marshes, woodlands, and suburbs.
- Their main food sources are tiny animals, birds, and reptiles, which shows that they are top predators.
- Hawks need conservation efforts to preserve them from losing their homes and dangers from people.
- Birdwatching techniques and resources for identifying birds will make your Florida hawk-spotting trips even better.
Majestic Hawks – A Guide To The Top 10 Types of Florida’s Hawks:
Florida’s warm, diversified environment makes it a good place for several types of hawks to live. They all have diverse behaviors, habitats, and traits that set them apart from each other. Here is a list of the most common hawks in Florida.
1. Red-shouldered Hawk – The Vocal Wetland Dweller:
- Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
- Life Span: 19 years
- Size: 16.9–24.0 in (43–61 cm)
- Weight: 17.1–27.3 oz (486–774 g)
- Wingspan: 37.0–43.7 in (94–111 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
You may find a lot of Red-shouldered Hawks in Florida’s wetlands. Their loud “kee-ah” call and rusty shoulders give them their moniker. In forested regions near water these medium-sized raptors revel in hunting amphibian species, snakes, and rodents. They are able to have the ability to adapt to live in backyards of suburban homes, where they breed on tall trees.
Spectacular acrobatic courtship flights occur during mating season, when paired birds cry out to one another while in flight. Red-shouldered Hawks are located in Florida throughout the whole year and have a significant role in the ecosystem of the state.
Red-shouldered Hawks are superb at foraging but they also help keep pests like rats and snakes that don’t live in the region under control. Because they live in marshes, they help maintain Florida’s natural ecosystem in balance. They are the overlooked heroes of the state. Birdwatchers hear birds before they ever see them, which makes viewing them much more fun.
2. Red-tailed Hawk – The Iconic Soarer:
- Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
- Life Span: 12–25 years
- Size: 17.7–25.6 in (45–65 cm)
- Weight: 24.3–51.5 oz (690–1460 g)
- Wingspan: 44.9–52.4 in (114–133 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Red-tailed hawks are identifiable by their brick-red tails, which are visible when they are passing in a large area.. This large predatory bird species lives in the grasslands, farms, and medians of Florida, where it hunts rabbits and rodents. It’s easy to tell these individuals apart because of their loud cry, which is often used to show eagles in movies.
They are solitary wildlife that make strong nests on minerals or in plants and use them every year. People from the north go to the state to spend the winter with them.
Red-tailed hawks are outstanding hunters in Florida’s wide-open spaces because their huge wingspans let them see a long way. Farmers appreciate them also because they keep the amount of rats down, which is beneficial for farming. This illustrates how helpful that they are to growers. In Florida, it’s normal to see someone ride a fencepost.
“The hawk, though he has such swiftness, yet he flies not beyond the sky.” – Augustine of Hippo
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3. Cooper’s Hawk – The Stealthy Urban Hunter:
- Scientific Name: Accipiter cooperii
- Life Span: 12 years
- Size: 14.6–17.7 in (37–45 cm)
- Weight: 7.8–24.0 oz (220–680 g)
- Wingspan: 24.4–35.4 in (62–90 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Cooper’s Hawks are very excellent at flying low and rapidly through trees to catch small birds. They have long tails and short, notched wings that make them great at cutting through dense undergrowth. They are also smaller compared to red-tailed hawks. In Florida, they are known to appear in backyards and surprise songbirds that are feeding at bird feeders.
Dark gray covers their backs and reddish-colored torsos with lines run through them. They are attractive, yet they are hard to find since they stay to themselves. They are tough considering they are capable of living in cities. Cooper’s Hawks are examples of how strong nature is because they continue to thrive even though people are creating things.
Birders are both shocked and angry by the cruel methods they hunt, which they see all the time at backyard feeders when they go for smaller birds. Being able to tell the difference between their fast, darting movements may make any birding excursion.
4. Sharp-shinned Hawk – The Tiny Winter Visitor:
- Scientific Name: Accipiter striatus
- Life Span: 5–13 years
- Size: 9.4–13.4 in (24–34 cm)
- Weight: 3.1–7.7 oz (87–218 g)
- Wingspan: 16.9–22.1 in (43–56 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Sharp-shinned Hawks, Florida’s smallest hawks come to the state in the winter and zoom through the woods looking for little birds. Because they have such little and flap around so swiftly, it could be hard to see them. People often think these are Cooper’s Hawks. Sharp-shinned Hawks like to live in the forests, although they sometimes soar into the suburbs when they move.
They look a lot like Cooper’s Hawks because their bellies are red and their backs are blue-gray, but they are smaller and have straight tails. Birdwatchers like how short their journeys are.
Sharp-shinned Hawks are small but they are very good at catching. They go hunt birds that have wings almost as large as themselves. In the winter, Florida’s birds are more fun to watch because they fly so fast that even the most experienced birdwatchers can’t tell how fast they are. You are likely to spot these rapid birds in wintertime in boreal woods.
5. Broad-winged Hawk – The Migratory Spectacle:
- Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus
- Life Span: 12 years
- Size: 13.4–17.3 in (34–44 cm)
- Weight: 9.3–19.8 oz (265–560 g)
- Wingspan: 31.9–39.4 in (81–100 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Big wings People know about hawks because they fly in great flocks throughout Florida in the autumn. With big wings and short tails, these medium-sized hawks seem fierce. They whistle with a booming voice that can be heard all throughout the woods. Their diet consists of insects, rodents, and small mammals.
The Keys in Florida During their journey to South and Central America, you have the chance to see hawks at Hawkwatch and other sites. The sight of hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks flying across the sky in unison provides birdwatchers with a feeling of belonging to the species. The fact that birds make use of thermal updrafts in order to save energy while they are traveling is wonderful for them. Some people may only do the hawk watch event once in their whole lives.
“In the hawk’s flight, we see the wild heart of nature, untamed even in our cities.” – John Muir
6. Northern Harrier – The Marsh Glider:
- Scientific Name: Circus hudsonius
- Life Span: 7–12 years
- Size: 18.1–19.7 in (46–50 cm)
- Weight: 10.6–26.5 oz (300–750 g)
- Wingspan: 40.2–46.5 in (102–118 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
You can readily tell the Northern Harrier apart from other birds because it flies low and glides, and its face looks like an owl’s. They use their sight and hearing to find voles, snakes, and tiny birds. There are plenty of them in the Florida Everglades and other wetland areas, and you may spot them by their unique flight pattern.
Male birds have gray plumage as opposed to brown plumage seen on females and juvenile birds. Learning about them is a lot more entertaining now. Hawks that spend the winter in Florida add to the variety of hawks in the state.
Northern Harriers are different from other birds because they make their nests in thick marsh plants instead of trees. This tendency renders wetlands more vulnerable to changes in the environment, which shows how important it is to conserve them. People who go to wetlands like to see them fly low and gracefully.
7. Short-tailed Hawk – The Elusive Soarer:
- Scientific Name: Buteo brachyurus
- Life Span: 10–15 years
- Size: 15.3–17.3 in (39–44 cm)
- Weight: 12.3–17.6 oz (350–500 g)
- Wingspan: 32.7–40.2 in (83–102 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Short-tailed Hawks are less common, yet they are quite intriguing. There are dark and light versions of these that even expert birdwatchers cannot tell apart. They soar high over fields and woods, hunting for birds and tiny creatures to eat. In Florida, you may generally locate them in the southern sections, such the Everglades.
Their wings are broad and the tails are small, which helps them fly fast. People that love to watch hawks love to view them since they dwell in South the state of Florida all year.
It’s hard to view short-tailed hawks without binoculars since they prefer to soar high in the air. Their two forms, which may be either dark brown or white with black wings, are fascinating due to the fact that they can be found in the same group. If you go to the big areas of southern Florida, you have a higher chance of spotting these rare birds of prey.
8. Swainson’s Hawk: The Rare Migrant
- Scientific Name: Buteo swainsoni
- Life Span: 10–18 years
- Size: 18.9–22.0 in (48–56 cm)
- Weight: 24.0–48.0 oz (680–1360 g)
- Wingspan: 46.0–54.0 in (117–137 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Swainson’s Hawks don’t come to Florida very often, although they do come during the spring and fall migrations. They are birds of prey with long tails and wings. Their wings are pointed, and they enjoy to hunt bugs and tiny creatures in large fields. The hawk’s trip to South America is one of the greatest migrations of any bird.
Their bodies are covered with light brown feathers, while their wings are covered in black feathers. People who love birds want to see them in Florida. When Swainson’s Hawks are migrating, they usually consume grasshoppers, which sets them apart from other hawks. Birdwatchers get delighted every time they see one since they are so scarce in Florida. During migration seasons, monitoring open fields could lead to fascinating meetings.
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9. Rough-legged Hawk: The Arctic Visitor
- Scientific Name: Buteo lagopus
- Life Span: 10–18 years
- Size: 18.5–20.5 in (47–52 cm)
- Weight: 25.0–49.0 oz (710–1400 g)
- Wingspan: 52.0–54.3 in (132–138 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
Rough-legged Hawks fly down to Florida from the Arctic in the winter, when they build their nests. When they are hunting tiny birds and rodents, they like fields and marshes that are large enough for them to hover over. Their name originates from the fact that their legs are covered with feathers, which is not the case with other hawks.
They are a lot more intriguing as they may be either dark or brilliant. In northern Florida, birdwatchers get giddy whenever they see one, but that’s not often. Rough-legged Hawks are easy to see in open areas because they hover in the air. Florida’s winter birds have a particular touch because of their Arctic heritage, which is why birders go to the north. You need patience and a good spotting scope to discover these rare visitors.
10. Ferruginous Hawk – The Occasional Wanderer:
- Scientific Name: Buteo regalis
- Life Span: 12–20 years
- Size: 22.0–27.0 in (56–69 cm)
- Weight: 34.0–73.0 oz (970–2070 g)
- Wingspan: 52.4–55.9 in (133–142 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) is the largest hawk in North America. It occasionally comes to Florida, which is far from its regular haunts in the Great Plains and western prairies. This beautiful bird of prey is known for its rusty-colored feathers. The common light morph has a white belly, red shoulders, and legs that create a V-shape in flight. Its wingspan may reach up to 56 inches.
There haven’t been many sightings in Florida since 1986, and they mainly happen during migration in open regions like grasslands or agricultural fields. Hawks like these mainly eat tiny to medium-sized animals like rabbits and ground squirrels.
They employ a number of different ways to hunt, such soaring high. Birdwatchers are pleased when they see them since they are migratory and appreciate wide open spaces without trees. They don’t like Florida’s thick woodlands and wetlands as much.
“The hawk is a messenger of the wild, reminding us to protect the lands they soar over.” – Rachel Carson
Why Hawks Are Florida’s Sky Kings?
Hawks belong to the family Accipitridae, which includes daytime birds of prey with hooked beaks, keen talons, and superb eyesight. Florida birds are everywhere, skimming over fields or resting on power poles looking for prey.
They persist in rural wetlands and urban boundaries due to their adaptability. Falcons rely on speed, but hawks are good hunters because they use their sharp vision and stealth to catch prey.
Hawks come in many different types, but most of them have wide wings as well as lengthy tails that help them move throughout Florida’s many landscapes. Red-shouldered Hawks, a Florida favorite, with reddish-brown shoulders and piercing calls that resound over marshes. Birdwatchers can find hawks in the wild and understand their function in the ecology better if they know these things.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
The Best Places to See Hawks in Florida (Maps & Tips)!
Florida’s diverse ecosystems provide ideal habitats for hawks, from coastal mangroves to inland prairies. Each species has a preferred environment, though many adapt to human-altered landscapes. Exploring these habitats reveals why Florida is a hawk-watching paradise.
A Raptor’s Paradise – Marshes and Wetlands:
Hawks love wetlands, including the Everglades and the St. Johns River. Red-shouldered Hawks are the most common birds here. They sit on cypress branches and look for food. Northern Harriers also like to hang out in swamps. Their low, floating movements are very different from those of other hawks, which fly high and fast. These places include a lot of food, from frogs to tiny fish, which is very important for hawks to stay alive.
Forests and Woodlands – Secret Places to Hide:
Hawks like the Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned can live in Florida’s oak woods and pine forests. These thick places let them hide as they hunt, which lets them ambush victims with deadly accuracy. Paynes Prairie Preserve and other forested state parks are great places to see these hard-to-find birds of prey.
Hawks in the City – Urban and Suburban Areas:
Hawks have become better at living in cities, and Cooper’s and Red-shouldered Hawks do quite well in Florida’s cities. Squirrels and pigeons nest in golf, parks, courses, and mature yards. This capacity to adapt shows how strong they are, but it also makes things harder, as when they hit structures.
Wide Open Spaces – Red-tailed Hawk Habitat:
To be able to fly high and dive for food, red-tailed hawks like open areas. It’s perfect for rodents in Florida’s agricultural areas, such as those in Palm Beach and Alachua counties. These hawks also like highway medians because they provide them good places to hunt.
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Sky Predators – The Deadly Tactics of Florida’s Raptors:
Hawks rely on their exceptional vision, which is up to eight times sharper than a human’s, to spot prey from great distances. For example, Red-tailed Hawks often hunt from high perches, diving at speeds up to 120 mph to snatch rodents. In contrast, Cooper’s Hawks use surprise, darting through trees to catch birds mid-flight. Meanwhile, Northern Harriers employ a unique low-gliding technique, listening for prey with their owl-like facial discs.
When it comes to reproduction, courtship displays are spectacular, with pairs performing aerial dances, locking talons, and spiraling together. Typically, hawk mating season in Florida peaks in late winter to early spring. After mating, nests—built from sticks and lined with softer materials—are often placed high in trees or on cliffs. Interestingly, both parents share incubation and feeding duties, with fledglings leaving the nest after about six weeks.
While some hawks, like the Red-shouldered, are year-round Florida residents, others, such as the Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned, are migratory. Each fall, massive flocks of Broad-winged Hawks pass through Florida, with prime viewing spots like the Florida Keys Hawk watch. Ultimately, these migrations are driven by food availability and weather, with hawks traveling thousands of miles to winter in Central and South America.
Saving Hawks – The Biggest Threats & Conservation Wins:
Despite their adaptability, hawks face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and human activities. Conservation efforts are vital to ensure their survival in Florida. Urban sprawl and deforestation reduce nesting and hunting grounds, particularly for forest-dwelling hawks like the Cooper’s. Pesticides, such as rodenticides, can poison hawks indirectly through contaminated prey. Collisions with vehicles and buildings are also significant risks.
Organizations like the Audubon Society and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission work to protect hawk habitats through land preservation and public education. Raptor rehabilitation centers, such as the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, rescue and release injured hawks.
“The hawk is a messenger of the wild, reminding us to protect the lands they soar over.” – Rachel Carson
Individuals can support hawk conservation by reducing pesticide use, installing bird-safe windows, and supporting local wildlife organizations. Planting native trees provides nesting sites, while keeping cats indoors protects hawks’ prey. These small steps make a big difference.
FAQs:
What is the most common hawk in Florida?
The Red-shouldered Hawk is the most common in Florida, often seen in woodlands and suburban areas. Its distinctive reddish-brown shoulders and loud, kee-ah calls make it easy to spot. They thrive in diverse habitats, from swamps to urban parks.
Did I see a hawk or a falcon?
Hawks have broader wings and soar more, while falcons have slender, pointed wings and fly with rapid wingbeats. Hawks, like the Red-tailed, glide in wide circles; falcons, like the Peregrine, dive swiftly. Check size, wing shape, and flight style to identify.
What attracts hawks to your yard?
Hawks are attracted by food (small birds, rodents), water sources (birdbaths), and perching spots (trees, fences). They’re drawn to yards with active bird feeders or open spaces for hunting. Maintaining a natural habitat with tall trees encourages their visits.
What is the small grey hawk in Florida?
The small grey hawk in Florida is likely the Sharp-shinned Hawk, a compact raptor with a slate-grey back, often seen in forests or yards. Its short, rounded wings and long tail help it navigate dense cover. They’re agile hunters, preying on small songbirds.
Final Thoughts:
From the stealthy Cooper’s Hawk to the soaring Red-tailed Hawk, these raptors captivate with their beauty and strength. By understanding their behaviors, habitats, and conservation needs, we can ensure their skies remain vibrant.
Whether you’re spotting a Red-shouldered Hawk in the Everglades or a Broad-winged Hawk during migration, Florida’s hawks offer endless opportunities for discovery. Grab your binoculars, explore their world, and let these majestic birds inspire you.
“The hawk’s keen eye sees beyond the horizon, a guide for those who seek wisdom.” – Chief Seattle