They’re very common in Texas and if you’re lucky you may see a large flock of these raptors soaring overhead in April or September each year. Their range goes north into Canada and Alaska and their migration path also takes them south through Mexico, Central America, and into the southern parts of South America. Swainson’s Hawks are medium to large hawks and can be found in eastern, northern, and portions of southern Texas. Red-shouldered Hawks typically return to the same nesting site each year. The great horned owl is known for stealing baby Red-shouldered Hawks out of their nest and eating them. They also like to stay perched up high on wires and in treetops looking for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally other birds. Red-shouldered Hawks can be identified by their reddish-brown breast and dark/white checkered wings. They are considered medium sized hawks and are a bit smaller than red-tails. The Red-shouldered Hawk has a range in southern and eastern Texas, as well as most of the eastern half of the United States. A truly magnificent raptor and even though they are very common, they’re still a treat to spot. They feed mostly on small to medium-sized mammals and aren’t regularly seen stalking bird feeders like a cooper’s or sharpie. Red-tailed Hawks are commonly seen perched high up on telephone wires or in treetops waiting for their next meal to appear. They can easily be recognized by their large size, red tails and shrill screams that are commonly heard in movies and on TV to represent all raptors. Red-tails are one of the largest birds of prey in North America. They are year-round resident to the entire state of Texas and most of the United States aside from a portion of the mid-west where they migrate for breeding only. *All measurements are based on averages of males and females of the speciesįirst up is definitely one of the most common hawks in Texas and North America, the Red-tailed Hawk. One thing all of these birds do have in common is that they are all part of the hawk family and they have all been known to live in Texas in some capacity. A few species like the Common Black Hawk, Great Black Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Crane Hawk, and the Roadside Hawk were left off of this list as they are rare vagrants in Texas that really don’t belong on the list. Some are year long residents while others are rare and only in the southern most tip of the state. Enjoy! 14 Types of Hawks in Texasīelow is a list of the 14 species of hawks in Texas. Each hawk on the list has a picture, some measurements, and a little bit about each. This article contains the species of hawks I was able to verify as having at least a limited range in some part of Texas through and other sources. We’ve found that at least 14 of these hawks can be found in Texas. There are over 200 species of hawks in the world with up to 25 of those species living in the United States. Hawks are birds of prey and in the same family as eagles and kites, the family Accipitridae. So it would make sense that there are quite a few different species of hawks in Texas. Positioned just north of Mexico, Texas is also right in the migratory path of many different species of birds. Flight pattern of flapping and gliding is often seen when this bird hunts on the wing. Most often they are seen in soaring flight, with the wings held in a slight dihedral or broad U-shape.With an area of 268,820 square miles, Texas is far and away the largest state in the continental United States. This is the most common and widespread hawk in North America – and also has the most variable pattern of plumage of all hawk species on the continent. Another identifying point common to all subgroups is a dark mark on the leading edge of the underwing, visible in flight. Most adults have a belly band of dark streaks on white underparts. The reddish tail of the adult is distinctive to this species, but juvenile birds (and some color morphs) lack this feature. Sexes are similar in appearance, with much size overlap, but females are generally larger. Plumage is extremely variable in pattern and amount of dark at least 4 light morph (variety) and 3 dark morph subgroups have been identified, with color phases ranging from pale, to “normal,” to reddish, to dark. All of these interbreed, so individual variation in this one species of hawk is enormous. A large, stocky hawk with broad and fairly rounded wings, and a wingspan of about 4 ft.
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