Have you ever stopped when walking through Hawks of Missouri and watched the birds soar across the sky? Missouri is an area of high biodiversity in the center of America. It boasts rolling fields, deep woodlands, rocky Ozark hills, and wetlands that sparkle.
Hawks may live in many different habitats in the state because they are along important migratory flyways. Because of its unique ecology, Missouri is a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Hawks in the Missouri Territory are ferocious hunters with sharp eyesight, acute hearing, and strong talons. The Accipitrid family includes them. It’s interesting that their feathers occasionally display slight sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. This makes it more exciting to find out who they are.
Hawks are also found all across the world, with 11 species reliably recorded in Missouri. Sometimes, rare vagrants surprise skilled watchers, but the state’s permanent and migratory hawks are more interesting because they are so big and fly so well.
Also, Missouri has some of the best places in the world to see birds, such Busch Preservation Area and the Mark Twain National Forest, who are currently which are great places to see hawks in their native habitat.
This book looks at 11 types of hawks that are often observed in Missouri and talks about their behaviors, homes, ecological roles, and conservation challenges. This post will help you locate the beautiful hawks of Missouri, which is great for wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, or anyone who just want to know more.
“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 (A biblical nod to the soaring grace of hawks.)
Key Takeaways:
- There are 11 types of hawks in Missouri, such as the Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and Broad-winged Hawks.
- Hawks live in a wide range of environments all year, from plains to woods.
- Hawk viewing is great during the fall migrations.
- Conservation initiatives keep hawks safe from losing their homes and dangers from people.
- The best places to go birding and suggestions for seeing Missouri’s raptors.
1. Red-tailed Missouri Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
- Life Span: 10–20 years
- Size: 18–26 inches
- Weight: 1.5–3.5 pounds
- Wingspan: 43–57 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles
- Behavior: Perches high, dives for prey, loud screams
- Habitat: Open fields, woodlands, urban edges
The rusty-red tails and wide, rounded wings of Red-tailed Hawks make them the most famous and common raptors in Missouri. These adaptive birds do well in many places, from the green hills of Ozarks to suburbs of St. Louis and Kansas City. You may often see them sitting on telephone poles or flying over wide fields.
Their incredible diversity in diet—including songbirds, rodents, rabbits, and reptiles—proves that they are adapted predators. During the mating season, they emit loud, rough sounds that may be heard all across the Missouri countryside. These cries help them locate partners and define boundaries.
Red-tailed Hawks make huge stick the nests higher up in trees or on the brink of cliffs. They use these nests every year. They are a great example of the wild aspect of Missouri’s landscapes since they are so common and can live in both cities and rural locations. Birdwatchers may spot them year-round in open spaces where they dive swiftly to collect food with their sharp claws.
2. Cooper’s Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Accipiter cooperii
- Life Span: 8–12 years
- Size: 14–20 inches
- Weight: 0.5–1.5 pounds
- Wingspan: 24–35 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small birds, occasionally mammals
- Behavior: Stealthy, agile, ambushes prey
- Habitat: Forests, suburbs, urban parks
Cooper’s Hawks are experts at being quiet. They can move through Missouri’s woods and suburbs with amazing speed and grace. As a result of their small bodies, shortened wings and long tails that resemble rudders, they are able to negotiate thick foliage at rapid speeds, which enables them to be powerful predators of tiny birds such as sparrows and doves. People often see these hawks hunting animals at feeders in the suburbs, thus they have effectively adapted to living in areas like Springfield and Columbia, where they catch homeowners off guard.
In addition, they are distinguished through their slate-gray backs, reddish-barred chests, and blazing red eyes due to their covert nature, it is a valued task to actually locate them. For instance, during mating season, Cooper’s Hawks do spectacular flying displays to attract partners. They soar and dive to do this. Then, they build nests high up in the tree canopies using sticks as well as bark to make strong platforms that are hard for predators to find.
Their capacity to adapt is on display in their increasing urban presence, but it is also a reminder that healthy ecosystems are essential for the survival of hawks and the species they hunt. Lastly, birdwatchers may see them flying through shrubs or sitting still, looking for what to eat next.
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3. Broad-winged Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus
- Life Span: 12–18 years
- Size: 13–17 inches
- Weight: 0.6–1.2 pounds
- Wingspan: 31–39 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Insects, amphibians, small mammals
- Behavior: Migratory, forms kettles, shy
- Habitat: Dense forests, woodlands
Broad-winged Hawks are Missouri’s migratory marvels, renowned for their spectacular fall journeys to Central and South America. In a spectacular exhibition of collective flight, thousands congregate in huge groupings called kettles every September, and they spiral upward on thermal currents. Their short, wide wings and banded tails set them out in the sky, especially when they are migrating in places such as Busch Conservation Area.
Due to their little size, these hawks are able to navigate impenetrable canopies, allowing them to prey on insects, amphibians, and small animals while breeding in dense woods. During migratory season, they are shy and hard to find. They typically stay concealed in Missouri’s woods, such the Mark Twain National Forest.
You could hear their high-pitched whistles when they are mating. They provide a gentle sound track for wooded paths. Broad-winged Hawks make nests that are thick and compact on tree branches. These nests mix very well with their environment. For bird lovers, the migration of birds is a display that demonstrates how a persistent raptor moves over the world.
4. Sharp-shinned Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Accipiter striatus
- Life Span: 5–10 years
- Size: 9–13 inches
- Weight: 0.2–0.4 pounds
- Wingspan: 16–22 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small birds, insects
- Behavior: Fast, secretive, agile hunter
- Habitat: Woodlands, suburban areas
Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest hawks in the state. They are fast hunters that are very good at catching tiny birds. Their slender bodies and long tails make them able to fly quickly and smoothly through dense woodlands, like Cooper’s The Hawks but much smaller. They are often observed in suburban backyards, where they cleverly employ bird feeders as habitats for hunting, focusing on birds and finches in particular.
For example, during migration, they migrate through the state of Missouri by the hundreds of thousands mixing with different raptors along flyways. Then, in order to ensure the well-being of their young, they carefully conceal their nests on the uppermost branches of coniferous trees. Birders have to move quickly to view them since they are little and hard to find.
They inhabit urban parks and forested areas in Missouri, where they hide and hunt for food all day long. Finally, their presence makes it extremely evident how predator-prey interactions vary in both natural and man-made environments.
5. Northern Harrier:
- Scientific Name: Circus hudsonius
- Life Span: 7–12 years
- Size: 18–20 inches
- Weight: 0.6–1.7 pounds
- Wingspan: 38–48 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Rodents, small birds
- Behavior: Low gliding, relies on hearing
- Habitat: Marshes, grasslands, prairies
Northern Harriers are graceful fliers who glide low over Missouri’s plains and marshes in a unique tilting flight. They have the unique owl-like facial discs that only a few hawks have, which helps them hear rodents in dense vegetation.
Both sexes, albeit different in color, have a white rump area when flying. They build nests on the ground and conceal their eggs under thick leaves, which is different from other hawks. They are a striking sight in locations such as Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge because they hunt voles and small birds. Their low, floating flights make them a captivating sight.
Outside of breeding season, Northern Harriers are normally alone. They are different from other raptors because they hunt in a way that employs both sight and hearing. They dwell in marshes and grasslands in Missouri where they assist keep the ecosystem in regulate by keeping rodent numbers in control.
“The hawk’s keen eye sees the world in ways we cannot, teaching us to look deeper into nature’s truths.” – John James Audubon, ornithologist.
6. Red-shouldered Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
- Life Span: 10–15 years
- Size: 16–24 inches
- Weight: 1–1.7 pounds
- Wingspan: 37–43 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Amphibians, small mammals, reptiles
- Behavior: Vocal, territorial, perches in cover
- Habitat: Wooded wetlands, river bottoms
Red-shouldered Hawks are loud denizens of woods and wetlands in the state of Missouri. Their powerful “kee-ah” cries may be heard brilliantly reverberating in river sides and across swamp forests. Their red shoulders and striped tails shine out, especially when they are lounging beneath shade trees. These hawks are quite adept at catching frogs, snakes, and other small animals. They usually do this by hiding in low places and waiting for their prey to come to them.
Unlike hawks that hunt in broad fields, they enjoy dense, wet locations. This is why they like the waters of the Mississippi the most. Also, when they have babies, they build strong nests in forked trees and may utilize the same one for several years. Because of this, its loud shouts and flying displays, which are just for them, loudly show how much better they are than everyone else.
Red-shouldered Hawks aren’t as prevalent in cities, but they are fairly abundant in Missouri wetlands. This makes wooded routes seem really lovely. Lastly, bird enthusiasts may easily find them by listening for their calls, which can be heard from a long distance away in quiet, wooded regions.
7. Swainson’s Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo swainsoni
- Life Span: 10–15 years
- Size: 19–22 inches
- Weight: 1.5–2.5 pounds
- Wingspan: 47–55 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Insects, small mammals
- Behavior: Migratory, social, soaring
- Habitat: Grasslands, agricultural fields
Swainson’s Hawks fly long distances and come to Missouri’s prairies in the months of spring and fall. They are distinct from other kinds of hawks because they have long wings as well as black bibs when they move in loose groups. When they are traveling, they consume a lot of insects like grasshoppers, but when they are breeding, they devour rodents instead.
It is one of the longest migration of raptors, and the plains and farms of Missouri are key sites for them to stop so that they may continue on their journey to South America. Hawk-watching is more fun because of how they behave with other hawks, which is usually seen in small groups. It’s straightforward and works well to build nests in low bushes or trees.
They don’t live in Missouri as much as Red-tailed Hawks do but they give a special touch to open places. Birdwatchers may view these beautiful birds on the western plains, where they fly in a way that captivates everyone who sees them.
8. Rough-legged Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo lagopus
- Life Span: 10–18 years
- Size: 18–23 inches
- Weight: 1.5–3 pounds
- Wingspan: 52–57 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small mammals, birds
- Behavior: Hovers while hunting, winter visitor
- Habitat: Open fields, marshes
Rough-legged Hawks come to Missouri in the winter to escape the extreme cold. They come from their nesting areas in the Arctic. Their feathery legs and the way they hover while hunting make them easy to tell apart. These hawks hunt voles and mice in broad fields and often perch on low writes or glide over marshes.
Some have pale feathers and others have darker ones, thus their dark and light variants provide variation. In Missouri, places like Squaw Creek attract them in the winter, when people are fascinated by their hovering behavior.
Nests built on Arctic cliffs are far away from Missouri, yet they make the state’s plains come alive in the winter. Rough-legged Hawks bring a taste of the the Arctic to the state of Missouri, making them a seasonal treat for bird watchers.
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9. Ferruginous Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Buteo regalis
- Life Span: 12–20 years
- Size: 20–27 inches
- Weight: 2–4.5 pounds
- Wingspan: 52–60 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small mammals, birds
- Behavior: Solitary, powerful flier
- Habitat: Grasslands, open plains
Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon but beautiful birds that come to Missouri’s vast plains. Their appearance quickly draws the attention of all who see them. For example, their strong bodies and rusty legs make them stand out as one of the biggest hawks. They are quite good in hunting rabbits, prairie dogs and birds, using forceful dives to catch their prey quickly.
Furthermore, their solitary nature and preference for wide grasslands make encounters common, particularly in west Missouri during migration. This is why their nests, which are constructed on rocks or low plants, are so big; they may be as broad as six feet.
Additionally, their white underplumage makes the light morph sparkle in the sun, and the contrast between the light and dark morphs is striking. Finally, Ferruginous Hawks are the best example of how wild the terrain can be, and dedicated birders are lucky to encounter one in Missouri.
10. Northern Goshawk:
- Scientific Name: Accipiter gentilis
- Life Span: 6–11 years
- Size: 20–26 inches
- Weight: 1.5–3 pounds
- Wingspan: 40–46 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Birds, mammals
- Behavior: Aggressive, elusive, fast
- Habitat: Mature forests
Northern Goshawks are hard to find in Missouri’s mature woods. They are strong and ferocious, which makes them stand out. These hawks chase birds and animals, such squirrels and doves, through thick woodlands at high speeds and without stopping. Their gray feathers, crimson eyes, and white brow stripes make them stand out.
They like to stay hidden in places like the Ozark woodlands, where they make big nests in towering trees. They are respected because they defend their area aggressively, even fighting anyone who invade.
It takes a lot of work to notice a Northern Goshawk since it hides well. In Missouri, they represent the wild heart of prevent systems, and individuals who are lucky enough to see them fly through the air and hunt are enchanted.
11. Harris’s Hawk:
- Scientific Name: Parabuteo unicinctus
- Life Span: 10–15 years
- Size: 18–23 inches
- Weight: 1.3–2.2 pounds
- Wingspan: 40–47 inches
- Status: Least Concern
- Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles
- Behavior: Social, cooperative hunting
- Habitat: Open woodlands, scrublands
Harris’s Hawks are rare in Missouri, making the occasional appearance in open woodlands or scrub in the southern parts of the state. Their dark brown color and white-tipped tails are unique, but their social nature makes them stand out.
They hunt together in small groups, unlike other hawks. They use coordinated techniques to chase rabbits, birds, and reptiles. People who see this are amazed by how well family groups work together to do things like scout and attack.
Nests are made in low plants or cactus and are both weak and strong. Their affinity for dry habitats limits where they may be found in Missouri yet if they are seen in wide areas, it is a memorable experience. Harris’s Hawks are different from other hawks in Missouri because they may hunt and socialize at the same time.
“In the hawk’s flight, we see the rhythm of the wild, a dance of instinct and freedom.” – Rachel Carson, environmentalist.
Where Hawks Soar in Missouri?
Hawks love the many types of terrain in Missouri. Every species has a place to live, from wooded hills to wide grasslands. Knowing more about these ecosystems makes observing hawks more fun.
Woodlands and forests:
Birds of the Broad-winged and Northern Goshawk families are drawn to dense woods, such as those found in the Mark Twain National Forest. These places have places to build nests and plenty of prey in the underbrush. Hawks are good at moving through small areas and hunting under shady canopies. They use cover to launch surprise strikes as they move into woodlands.
Grasslands and Prairies:
Red-tailed and Swainson’s Hawks like open plains, like the ones in Missouri’s conservation zones. These birds fly high over fields, where they may see rodents. Grasslands have a lot of prey, which helps their diets. When you look around these places, you may see hawks sitting on posts or flying low.
Marshes and Wetlands:
Missouri’s marshes are home to Northern Harriers as well as Red-shouldered Hawks. Loess Bluffs and other marshes are home to rodents and amphibians. These hawks hunt by flying low or sitting on a perch. Wetlands are a peaceful place to watch them act in their own way.
In cities and suburbs:
Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks do well in Missouri’s cities. Songbirds come to backyard feeders, which brings in these predators. Urban parks are like natural ecosystems since they provide places to perch. You could see these adaptive hawks in the air above Kansas City or Springfield.
Behaviors – Hunting, Mating, and Migration:
Hawks exhibit captivating behaviors, from precise hunting to elaborate mating displays. These traits highlight their role as apex predators in Missouri’s ecosystems.
Hunting Strategies:
Hawks use different methods. When red-tailed hawks descend from their perches, they go for animals. Cooper’s Hawks hide in thick cover and attack birds. Northern Harriers move low and use their hearing to find food. Each technique shows how they have changed to fit in with Missouri’s environments.
Mating Rituals:
In the spring, animals show off their mating skills. Red-tailed Hawks fly in pairs, their talons locked in spirals. Broad-winged Hawks use quiet calls to get mates. Nests, whether they are high up or on ground level keep eggs safe. These rituals make relationships stronger, which leads to healthy babies.
Migration Patterns:
Broad-winged and Swainson’s hawks use Missouri as a stop on their way to other places. In the fall, flocks of hawks go in a spiraling upward direction. Places like Busch Preservation Area are great for watching. Migration connects Missouri’s hawks to ecosystems all throughout the world, showing how important they are.
“To watch a hawk is to witness the pulse of the wild, a reminder of nature’s untamed spirit.” – Aldo Leopold, conservationist.
Cultural Significance of Hawks – Native American Tribes’ Views:
Hawks hold cultural importance in Missouri. Native American tribes viewed them as symbols of vision. Today, they inspire art, literature, and environmental advocacy, connecting people to nature.
For tribes like the Osage, hawks symbolized strength. Stories cast them as spiritual messengers. These ties highlight the bond between Missouri’s people and its wildlife.
Hawks appear in art and festivals like Hawk Watch. Schools adopt hawk mascots, reflecting resilience. Their presence in Missouri’s skies inspires awe and appreciation.
“The hawk teaches us to see clearly, to rise above, and to embrace the wild within.” – Anonymous Native American proverb.
FAQs:
What kind of hawk is most prevalent in Missouri?
As a result of its versatility, the Red-tailed Hawk is the most common kind of hawk in the state of Missouri. It may be found in open fields, forests, and the fringes of urban areas.
What does it signify when a hawk stays in your yard?
A hawk in your garden often means that there is food nearby, including tiny birds or rodents that are drawn to feeders or their natural habitat. It’s not a mystical indication; it’s just how predators act.
Is it okay to have a hawk in your yard?
A hawk in your yard might help keep rats and nuisance birds away, but it could also drive smaller birds away from feeders. It shows that the environment is thriving, yet balance is important.
Did You see a falcon or a hawk?
Hawks have wider wings and fly higher, whereas falcons have sharp wings and fly quickly by flapping their wings. To tell them apart, pay attention to their size, wing form, and flying pattern.
Final Thoughts:
The 11 species of hawks in Missouri, from the powerful Red-tailed to the helpful Harris’s Hawk, add to the state’s natural heritage. People are fascinated by their different habits, homes, and cultural importance.
You may engage with these amazing Missouri birds of prey pictures by promoting conservation and visiting places where you can view hawks. Take your binoculars and go to a prairie or woodland to appreciate Missouri’s hawks. You may find out their tale of courage and grace.