Arizona is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including several species of hawks. These birds of prey are known for their keen eyesight, powerful talons, and impressive hunting abilities. From the iconic Red-tailed Hawk to the elusive Ferruginous Hawk, Arizona offers a unique opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Types of Hawks in Arizona
Red-Tailed Hawk: The most common hawk in Arizona, often seen soaring over open landscapes and along highways. It can be found in all regions of the state, from the deserts to the mountains.
Cooper’s Hawk: This medium-sized hawk is often found in urban and suburban areas, where it preys on small birds. It can also be found in wooded areas and along streams.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk: A small hawk that is often seen darting through trees in search of prey. It can be found in forests and wooded areas throughout the state.
Northern Harrier: Also known as the Marsh Hawk, this hawk can be found in wetlands and open grasslands. It is known for its distinctive flight style, which involves low, slow, and hovering flights.
Swainson’s Hawk: This large hawk can be found in open grasslands and agricultural areas. It is known for its migration, which takes it from Argentina to North America each year.
6. Ferruginous Hawk: This large hawk is found primarily in the deserts and grasslands of Arizona. It is known for its distinctive rusty-colored feathers.
Common Black Hawk: This hawk is found primarily in the southern parts of Arizona, near rivers and other bodies of water. It is known for its distinctive call and striking black and white plumage.
Northern Goshawk: This large hawk is found primarily in the mountains of Arizona. It is known for its aggressive behavior and is often seen chasing other birds through the trees.
Zone-Tailed Hawk: This hawk is found primarily in the southern parts of Arizona, near the border with Mexico. It is known for its striking resemblance to the Turkey Vulture, which it uses to sneak up on prey.
Broad-Winged Hawk: This medium-sized hawk is found primarily in the mountains of Arizona. It is known for its distinctive call, which sounds like a high-pitched whistle.
Gray Hawk: This small hawk is found primarily in the deserts and riparian areas of Arizona. It is known for its distinctive gray plumage and its preference for nesting in cacti.
Rough-legged Hawk: This hawk is found primarily in the northern parts of Arizona, near the border with Utah. It is known for its distinctive feathered legs, which help it stay warm in cold climates.
Short-Tailed Hawk: This hawk is a rare visitor to Arizona, but it is occasionally seen in the southern parts of the state. It is known for its distinctive short tail and its preference for hunting small birds.
White-Tailed Hawk: This hawk is a rare visitor to Arizona, but it is occasionally seen in the southern parts of the state. It is known for its distinctive white tail and its preference for hunting small mammals.
Red-Shouldered Hawk: This hawk is a rare visitor to Arizona, but it is occasionally seen in the southern parts of the state. It is known for its distinctive call, which sounds like a loud scream.
Where to Spot Hawks in Arizona
Madera Canyon: Located in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson, Madera Canyon is renowned for its rich birdlife and is a popular destination for birdwatchers. The diverse habitat, ranging from desert scrub to pine forests, attracts a wide variety of hawks. Some of the hawks you might spot in Madera Canyon include Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Harris’s Hawks, and occasional sightings of Northern Goshawks and Zone-tailed Hawks.
Chiricahua Mountains: The Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona offer excellent opportunities for hawk watching. This mountain range is part of the Coronado National Forest and provides a variety of habitats, including oak woodlands and pine forests. The diverse landscape attracts an impressive array of hawks. You can expect to see Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Zone-tailed Hawks, and occasionally, the elusive Gray Hawk.
Cave Creek Canyon: Located in the Chiricahua Mountains near the town of Portal, Cave Creek Canyon is another prime spot for hawk watching. This canyon offers a unique blend of riparian areas and pine-oak woodlands, creating a haven for various raptor species. Hawks commonly seen in this area include Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Zone-tailed Hawks, and occasional sightings of Swainson’s Hawks.
To the west of Arizona, California offers several locations known for hawk migration. One notable site is Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. To the north east, you can visit the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park in Nevada, a great location for hawk-watching. The Great Salt Lake, provides critical habitat for a variety of hawks in Utah. New Mexico has various hawk species. One notable hawk watching location in the southern part of the state is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Arizona’s Hawks Photo Guide
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
The Red-tailed Hawk is a large bird of prey that is commonly found across North America. This species is part of the genus Buteo, which is often referred to as the “true hawks,” and includes more than two dozen species of raptors.
Red-tailed Hawks have a robust size, ranging from 18 to 26 inches in length and sporting a wingspan that can exceed 4 feet. They have a broad, rounded set of wings and a short, wide red tail. This species is most easily recognized by its rich, rust-colored tail, which gives it its common name. However, juvenile hawks might not yet have this distinctive feature.
Their feathers are generally dark brown on their dorsal side (back) with a lighter, often speckled, ventral side (front). The intensity and pattern of their plumage can vary significantly based on their age and geographic location, as there are about 14 recognized subspecies of Red-tailed Hawks.
As for their diet, Red-tailed Hawks are carnivores and have a broad diet that includes rodents, ground rabbits, reptiles, and other birds. They are skilled hunters that typically sit on high perches and use their keen eyesight to spot potential prey. Once they have identified a target, they swoop down to capture it with their powerful talons.
Red-tailed Hawks mate for life and build nests high off the ground, often in tall trees or on cliff edges. Their nests are made of sticks and can be quite large. They typically lay 1-3 eggs per year, which are incubated by both parents.
Red-tailed Hawk Sound
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
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The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey native to North America. Known for its agility and speed, it is part of the Accipitridae hawk species, which also includes other hawks, eagles, and kites.
Cooper’s Hawks are typically about 14 to 20 inches in length, with a wingspan ranging from 27 to 36 inches. They are known for their distinctive long, rounded tails and short, rounded wings. They have a steely blue gray top, with rusty bars on their underparts and thick, dark bands on their tails.
The Cooper’s Hawk is a skilled predator, primarily hunting birds and small mammals. They are adept at hunting in both dense forests and open areas, often catching prey mid-air in high-speed pursuits. They have also been known to visit the backyard bird feeder, not for the seed, but to prey on the smaller birds that gather there.
Cooper’s Hawks often build nests in dense tree canopies where they are well concealed. The female usually lays 3 to 5 eggs, and both parents share incubation duties. The young hawks fledge after about a month but will stay close to the nest, relying on their parents for food as they learn to hunt.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
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The adult bird is brown on top and white underneath, with a dark brown band across its chest. It has short, rounded wings and a long tail that makes it look larger than it actually is. Adult sharp shinned hawks have black eyes, which are surrounded by white feathers. The female Sharp-shinned Hawk is browner than the male, who has darker brown markings on his back.
Sharp-shinned Hawks prefer open country for their habitat, including fields and meadows where they can hunt for mice and other small animals. They can be found throughout the United States but are most common in the east.
Sharp-shinned Hawks eat mostly small birds, such as sparrows and warblers, as well as small mammals such as mice and gophers. They catch prey by surprise using their incredible speed and agility, diving out of the sky at speeds up to 200 mph.
Sharp-shinned Hawks have an unusual hunting style for hawks—they prefer to catch their prey from perches above trees or telephone wires, rather than swooping down from above like most other hawks do and can often be seen hunting near bird feeders.
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
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The Northern Harrier is a medium-sized, slender hawk.
Adult birds are gray above, with pale bars on the wing feathers and white markings on the underwings and a white rump patch. The breast is barred with black and white, and the belly is streaked with brown.
They prefer open areas, such as grasslands and marshes, but can be found in almost any open habitat except dense woods.
Northern Harriers are opportunistic hunters that feed on small mammals such as mice, voles and rabbits as well as birds including quail, grouse and ducks. They hunt by flying low over open spaces such as fields or marshes.
Northern harrier nests on the ground in lowlands or hillsides near water bodies. It lays two to four eggs which hatch after 24 days of incubation by both parents. The chicks fledge after 30 days of hatching and remain dependent on their parents for another three weeks during which they learn how to fly.
Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Listen: Swainson’s Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk is a medium-sized hawk that is found in North America and South America, Scientific Name: Buteo swainsoni.
The bird has a blue-gray plumage with a dark brown back, wings, and tail. It also has a white chest and belly. The beak and feet are black, but the eyes are yellow. They are often confused with Cooper’s Hawk because of similar coloring, but Swainson’s Hawks have wider tails and longer wings than their cousin species.
These birds eat small rodents such as gophers and mice. They also eat insects like grasshoppers and crickets during the summer months when they’re plentiful. They sometimes steal prey from other birds of prey such as Northern Harriers who hunt the same prey.
Swainson’s Hawks build nests on rocky cliffs near water sources where they can find food easily. They lay three to five eggs that hatch after about two months into fluffy brown baby hawks who leave the nest after about three weeks (or when they’re big enough).
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk Sound
Scientific Name: Buteo regalis
Length: 20 to 27 in
Wingspan: 48 to 60 in
Weight: 32.0 to 80.0 oz
The Ferruginous Hawkis the largest hawk species native to North America. Known for its distinctive coloration and impressive size, this bird of prey predominantly inhabits the open landscapes of the western United States and parts of Canada.
Ferruginous Hawks are notable for their “ferruginous” or rust-colored back and shoulders, which contrasts sharply with the bird’s white underside. The hawk also has broad, rounded wings and a large, gape-mouthed beak. Ferruginous hawks exhibit dark morph and light morphs. Dark morphs have dark brown plumage, while light morphs display lighter, reddish-brown plumage. Morphs vary geographically.
Primarily feeding on small to medium sized mammals like rabbits and prairie dogs, the Ferruginous Hawk is an agile hunter, often seen soaring high above the ground or perched prominently while scanning for prey. It occasionally feeds on birds, reptiles, and insects as well.
Nesting for Ferruginous Hawks typically occurs on cliffs, hillsides, or large trees. The female lays between 2 to 5 eggs, and both parents share in the incubation and rearing of the chicks. The Ferruginous Hawk is a relatively solitary bird outside of the breeding season, and its call is a loud, high-pitched scream, often heard during courtship or near the nest.
Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)
Common Black Hawk Sound
Scientific Name: Buteogallus anthracinus
Length: 21 in
Wingspan: 50 in
Weight: 840g
The black hawk has dark brown feathers on its back and chest, with white feathers on its belly and under its tail. The back feathers have white spots and bars that give it an overall speckled appearance. Its eyes are yellowish-brown, and its legs are long and pinkish-white in color with black talons at the end.
Common Black Hawks tend to live in open spaces near water sources like lakes or rivers because they need water for bathing and drinking as well as hunting prey animals that may be found near such areas.
Common Black Hawks prefer to hunt for small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, and rats. They also eat reptiles like snakes and lizards if they can find them.
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
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The Northern Goshawk is a medium-sized hawk that is found in North America, Europe and Asia. It has brown eyes, a large sharp beak, and dark brown plumage on its upperparts and head, with white underparts that are spotted with brown barring. Its tail feathers are grayish-black with a dark band near the tip.
Northern goshawks eat squirrels, rabbits, grouse, woodchucks and other small mammals like voles or mice (which they often eat whole). They will also take larger prey such as deer fawns or even adult deer if they have no other choice. They have broad wings with long feathers that allow them to glide through the air when they catch their prey. They also have an excellent sense of smell which helps them locate their food source.
The Northern Goshawk builds its nest in a tree cavity or on a ledge, usually on the edge of an open area so it can easily see prey below. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs over two days and incubates them for 28 to 30 days while the male brings food to her every few hours until they hatch. The young fledge after about 6 weeks and leave the nest when they are about 10 weeks old.
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
Zone-tailed Hawk Sound
Scientific Name: Buteo albonotatus
Length: 18 to 22 in
Wingspan: 46 to 55 in
Weight: 1.2 to 2 lb
The Zone-tailed Hawk, or Buteo albonotatus, is a medium-sized bird of prey known for its unique appearance and behavior that mimics turkey vultures, a strategy used to deceive prey. This raptor is primarily found in the warmer regions of the Americas, including the southwestern United States, Mexico, and down to Argentina.
The Zone-tailed Hawks body are predominantly black, with white bands, or “zones,” on the tail, which give the bird its name. From a distance, the Zone-tailed Hawk can easily be mistaken for a turkey vulture due to its similar coloration and flight pattern.
Zone-tailed Hawk feeds on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Its hunting strategy is particularly clever. By mimicking the less-threatening turkey vulture in flight, it can often approach prey unnoticed before launching a surprise attack.
Nesting typically takes place in trees, cliffs, or even on man-made structures. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties.
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
Broad-winged Hawk Sound
The Broad-winged Hawk holds a commanding presence as one of the largest hawks in the world, known for its broad wings. Its formidable size is a testament to its prowess as a bird of prey, effortlessly navigating the open skies in search of food.
Their distinctive appearance sets them apart. The adults exhibit a striking black and white pattern, complemented by a rusty breast and buff underparts and brown wings. In contrast, juveniles are adorned with a brown plumage, marked by pale edges on their feathers, adding to their distinctive youthful charm.
These hawks are most commonly found in open areas, such as farmlands or grasslands interspersed with scattered trees, which provide optimal conditions for when hawks hunt.
When it comes to their diet, Broad-winged Hawks feed on small rodents like mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, and voles. Broad winged hawks breed during the spring and summer months then migrate to central and south America.
Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus)
Gray Hawk Sound
Scientific Name: Buteo plagiatus
Length: 18–24 in
Wingspan: 82-98 cm
Weight: 16.8 oz
The Gray Hawk is a small bird of prey native to the Americas. Known for its distinct coloration and elegant flight, this raptor is found in both the southwestern United States and across Central and South America.
Gray Hawks plumage is characterized by a light gray body, contrasted with a darker gray back and wings. Its tail features broad white and gray bands, making it a distinctive feature.
Primarily hunting from a perch, the Gray Hawk feeds mainly on small mammals, birds, and reptiles, including lizards and snakes. It often patrols the edges of clearings, diving swiftly to catch prey off guard.
Nesting for the Gray Hawk typically occurs in trees. The female usually lays 1 to 3 eggs, and both parents share in incubation duties. The nestlings are generally dependent on the parents for food for a few weeks after hatching.
The Gray Hawk’s call is a high-pitched, plaintive scream, which is often repeated several times. The species is primarily a solitary bird, usually seen alone or in pairs.
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
Rough-legged Hawk Sound
The Rough-legged Hawk is a large, raptor that is native to North America. It is also known as the American Rough-legged Hawk. Scientific Name: Buteo lagopus
The Rough-legged Hawk is a medium-sized hawk with a distinctive appearance, with dark brown feathers on its back and light brown feathers on its underside and broad thin wings. The hawk’s legs are also covered in dark feathers, which help to distinguish it from other species of hawk. The tail is barred with black and white. They have yellow eyes and dark feet.
Rough-legged Hawks hunt from above ground level, swooping down to catch its prey in its talons. When hunting for food, they prefer to eat small mammals such as squirrels and rabbits but will also eat birds if there aren’t any small mammals available. Although they eat a variety of small animals including birds, rodents, bats and reptiles, they rely heavily on fish for food during breeding season because it provides them with protein and calcium needed to produce eggs.
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk Sound
Scientific Name: Buteo brachyurus
Length: 15.3-17.3 in
Wingspan: 32.7-40.5 in
Weight: 13.6-16.9 oz
The Short-tailed Hawk is a small to medium-sized bird of prey native to the Americas.
Short-tailed Hawks are distinctive for their size and color variations. Adult individuals usually measure between 33-41 centimeters in length, with relatively short tails, giving them their common name. This species exhibits two color morphs, a dark morph and a light morph, with the darker morph being more prevalent in some areas. Both morphs possess a white rump and a broad, rounded wing shape.
The diet of the Short-tailed Hawk primarily consists of other birds, which they catch with a unique hunting strategy. They are often seen soaring high in the sky and will plummet in a fast stoop to capture prey unaware. This bird of prey is a master at utilizing thermals to soar high in the sky and can often be found circling in the air on warm days.
Short-tailed Hawks typically lay 1-3 eggs. The female incubates the eggs while the male brings her food. After hatching, the young birds stay in the nest for several weeks, with both parents providing food until they are ready to fledge.
White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)
The white-tailed hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey found in North America. It is one of the most common hawks on the continent, and it is often seen soaring high above the ground on its long wings.
- Scientific Name: Geranoaetus albicaudatus
- Length: 44–60 cm (17–24 in)
- Wingspan: 118–143 cm (46–56 in)
- Weight: 880–1,240 g (1.94–2.73 lb)
White-tailed Hawk Description
The white-tailed hawk has a large body and broad wings, with a tail that is mostly white with black bars. The head is grayish-brown, and there are white streaks above the eyes. The breast is grayish, while the belly is brownish-gray. The feathers on the back are dark brown with pale edges. The underwing coverts are white with brown tips. The white-tailed hawk has a black bill and brown legs. The eyes are yellow or orange with red orbital rings.
White-tailed Hawk Sound
White-tailed Hawk Habitat & Range
White-tailed hawks live in open country, including fields, deserts, grasslands, and even mountains. They like flat areas to hunt from so they can see their prey from far away. It can be found as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico.
White-tailed Hawk Diet
White-tailed hawks eat small animals like mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, birds (including chickens), reptiles (like snakes), amphibians (like frogs or toads), insects like grasshoppers and beetles as well as carrion (dead animals) such as road-killed deer or raccoons.
White-tailed Hawk Nesting
The White-tailed Hawk nests in tree cavities or on the ground, depending on the location. The female lays two eggs at a time and incubates them while the male hunts for food. After about two months, the eggs hatch and both parents take turns feeding their young until they are old enough to leave the nest on their own.
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
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The red-shouldered hawk are medium sized birds of prey, part of the buteo hawks family. It can be distinguished from other hawks by its reddish iris and pale legs.
The adult has rusty red upperparts, white underparts, a black chin and throat, and a reddish brown stripe over each eye, reddish brown heads and a strongly banded tail. The tail is reddish brown with two paler bands across it and they have white checkered wings. Juveniles are brown with dark barring and have pale fringes on the feathers of their wings.
Red-shouldered hawks nest in trees, though they also inhabit manmade structures including barns, bridges, and buildings. They prefer wooded areas with an open canopy but will use other places as well for nesting such as shrubs and hedges if needed.
The red-shouldered hawk’s diet – they eat small mammals such as ground squirrels, rabbits, voles, mice and rats. They also eat birds such as quail, pigeons and doves; reptiles including snakes; amphibians; fish; crustaceans; insects; and carrion (dead animals).
