18 Hawks In Texas – With Pictures & Locations

Texas is home to a wide variety of hawks, including the red-tailed hawk, the Swainson’s hawk, and the ferruginous hawk. These hawks play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control populations of small animals. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the most common types of hawks found in Texas.

18 Types Of Hawks In Texas

1. Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk, a true symbol of the wild, is one of the most common hawks not just in Texas, but across North America. With its broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail, this raptor is easily recognizable, especially due to its distinctive reddish-brown tail.

These hawks are known for their adaptability and can be found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, grasslands, forests, and even urban areas.Red-tailed Hawks are skilled hunters, feeding primarily on small mammals like mice, squirrels, and rabbits.

They have a unique hunting style, often soaring high in the sky and then swooping down swiftly to catch their prey unawares. If you’ve ever heard a piercing, raspy scream in a movie scene set in the wilderness, it’s likely the call of a Red-tailed Hawk – a sound that truly embodies the spirit of the wild.

2. Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk, a medium-sized raptor that’s a common sight in the woodlands of East Texas. Named for its reddish-brown shoulder patches, this hawk is a bit smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk but equally fascinating.

They have a distinctive, barred pattern on their wings and tail, making them easy to identify. Red-shouldered Hawks are known for their loud, repeated calls, often heard before the bird is seen. They are territorial birds and can often be seen perched on the edge of forests or wetlands, scanning for prey.

Their diet consists of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Interestingly, these hawks are known to form close relationships with crows, despite crows often being seen as a threat by other bird species.

3. Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk, This medium-sized raptor is known for its skillful maneuverability and speed. With their long tails and short, rounded wings, Cooper’s Hawks are built for chasing prey through dense forests, making them excellent bird hunters.

They are often found in woodland habitats but have adapted well to suburban and urban environments. Cooper’s Hawks have a slate-gray back, with a barred underbody and deep red eyes, adding to their intense gaze.

They are stealthy hunters, often surprising their prey by suddenly appearing from cover. Their diet primarily consists of birds and small mammals. If you have a bird feeder at home, keep an eye out – you might just spot a Cooper’s Hawk on the prowl!

4. Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk, the smallest hawk in North America, is a frequent visitor to the skies of Texas. Despite its small size, this raptor is a force to be reckoned with. Its name comes from the sharp, thin appearance of its lower leg, or “shin”.

With its short wings and long tail, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is built for agility, able to navigate through dense forests in pursuit of its prey. These hawks are known for their stealthy hunting style. They often hide in the cover of trees, darting out swiftly to catch unsuspecting birds.

Their diet primarily consists of small birds, but they’ve been known to take on larger ones too. The Sharp-shinned Hawk’s plumage is a mix of blue-gray on top and white underneath, with narrow, reddish bars. Their eyes, deep red in adults and yellow in juveniles, add to their intense gaze.

5. Broad-winged Hawk

The Broad-winged Hawk, a medium-sized raptor, is a seasonal visitor to Texas. These hawks are known for their spectacular migration in large groups, known as “kettles”, a sight that is truly a marvel to witness.

They have broad wings and a short tail, with a distinctive white band. Broad-winged Hawks prefer forested habitats, where they perch quietly waiting for prey. Their diet includes small mammals, birds, and amphibians.

One interesting fact about these hawks is their call – a high-pitched whistle that sounds like a steam kettle, which is how their group name was coined. So, if you hear a whistling sound in the woods, look up, you might spot a Broad-winged Hawk!

6. Rough-legged Buzzard

The Rough-legged Buzzard, also known as the Rough-legged Hawk in North America, is a large raptor that visits Texas during the winter months. This bird gets its name from the feathered legs, a feature that is shared only by the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle in North America.

These hawks are known for their ability to hover in the air while scanning the ground for prey, a behavior that is quite a spectacle. They feed primarily on small mammals like voles and lemmings.

The Rough-legged Buzzard has a broad, rounded wingspan and a square-shaped tail with a wide, dark band at the end. Their plumage varies from dark brown to light, almost white, making them a beautiful sight against the Texas sky.

7. Swainson’s Hawk

The Swainson’s Hawk, named after the British naturalist William Swainson, is a long-distance migrant that can be spotted in Texas, especially during the breeding season. This raptor is known for its impressive endurance,

making one of the longest migratory journeys of any American raptor, from North America to Argentina. Swainson’s Hawks have a slim body, long wings, and a short tail. They are often seen soaring in wide circles high in the sky.

Their diet is quite diverse, ranging from small mammals and birds to insects, particularly grasshoppers and dragonflies. One interesting fact about these hawks is their “Buteo” call, a high-pitched, plaintive whistle that is quite distinctive.

8. Harris’s Hawk

The Harris’s Hawk, named after the American ornithologist Edward Harris, is a medium-sized raptor that is quite common in the desert and semi-desert regions of Texas. This hawk is unique among raptors for its social behavior,

often hunting in cooperative groups, a behavior more commonly associated with wolves. Harris’s Hawks have dark brown plumage with reddish-brown shoulders, long, yellow legs, and a white-tipped tail.

They feed on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their cooperative hunting strategy allows them to take down larger prey, a testament to their intelligence and adaptability.

9. Ferruginous Hawk

The Ferruginous Hawk, the largest hawk in North America, is a sight to behold in the open landscapes of Texas. The name “Ferruginous” comes from the Latin word for rust, referring to the rust-colored plumage on their back and shoulders.

Ferruginous Hawks have broad wings and a large, grayish tail. They are known for their soaring flight, often seen circling high in the sky. These hawks feed primarily on small mammals, especially rabbits and rodents.

One unique feature of these hawks is their fully feathered legs, a characteristic they share only with the Rough-legged Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

10. Zone-tailed Hawk

The Zone-tailed Hawk, a medium-sized raptor, is a unique presence in the skies of Texas. This hawk is known for its striking resemblance to the Turkey Vulture, with its long, slender wings held in a V-shape and a long tail with white bands, or “zones”.

This mimicry allows the Zone-tailed Hawk to sneak up on its prey unnoticed. Zone-tailed Hawks are often found in open woodlands and riparian areas. They feed on small mammals, birds, and reptiles,

often surprising their prey by appearing suddenly from among the vultures. Their call, a high-pitched, mewing sound, is often heard during the breeding season.

11. Northern Goshawk

The Northern Goshawk, the largest member of the Accipiter genus, is a rare sight in Texas. This powerful raptor is known for its fierce nature and impressive hunting skills. With its broad,

rounded wings and long tail, the Northern Goshawk is built for speed and agility. Northern Goshawks have a blue-gray back, with a distinctive white eyebrow and a barred underbody.

They feed primarily on birds and mammals, often pursuing their prey relentlessly through the forest. Their call, a rapid, high-pitched “ki-ki-ki”, is often heard during the breeding season.

12. Gray Hawk

The Gray Hawk, a small raptor, is a common sight in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. This hawk is known for its graceful flight, often seen soaring low over the treetops. With its gray body,

white underparts with fine barring, and a banded tail, the Gray Hawk is a beautiful sight against the Texas sky. Gray Hawks are often found in riparian areas and open woodlands.

They feed on small animals, especially lizards and snakes. Their call, a high-pitched, plaintive whistle, is often heard during the breeding season.

13. Common Black Hawk

The Common Black Hawk, a medium-sized raptor, is a rare but exciting sight in the riparian areas of Texas. This hawk is known for its almost entirely black plumage, with a distinctive white band on its tail.

With its broad, rounded wings and short tail, the Common Black Hawk is built for maneuverability, often seen soaring low over water bodies. Common Black Hawks are often found near water, where they feed on a variety of prey, including fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

They have a unique hunting style, often perching quietly near water before swooping down to catch their prey. Their call, a high-pitched, piercing whistle, is often heard during the breeding season.

14. White-tailed Hawk

The White-tailed Hawk, a large raptor, is a common sight in the open grasslands and savannas of Texas. This hawk is known for its striking appearance, with a gray body, reddish shoulders, and a white tail.

With its broad, rounded wings and long tail, the White-tailed Hawk is a master of the skies, often seen soaring high above the ground.White-tailed Hawks feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

They have a unique hunting style, often soaring high in the sky before diving down at high speed to catch their prey. Their call, a high-pitched, kee-ahh sound, is often heard during the breeding season.

15. Northern Harrier

The Northern Harrier, a medium-sized raptor, is a unique presence in the open fields and marshes of Texas. This hawk is known for its distinctive flight pattern, often seen flying low over the ground with its wings held in a V-shape.

With its long wings and tail, the Northern Harrier is built for endurance, often seen gliding effortlessly over the landscape. Northern Harriers are unique among hawks for their owl-like facial disc, which helps them locate prey by sound.

They feed primarily on small mammals and birds, often surprising their prey by appearing suddenly from the low flight. Their call, a high-pitched, chattering sound, is often heard during the breeding season.

16. Short-tailed Hawk

The Short-tailed Hawk, a small raptor, is a rare but thrilling sight in the skies of Texas. This hawk is known for its distinctive flight pattern, often seen soaring high in the sky before diving down to catch its prey.

With its broad, rounded wings and short tail, the Short-tailed Hawk is built for agility, making it a skilled hunter. Short-tailed Hawks come in two color forms: a dark form, which is almost entirely black, and a light form, which has a white underbody and dark upperparts.

They feed primarily on small birds, often surprising their prey by appearing suddenly from the high flight. Their call, a high-pitched, kee-kee-kee sound, is often heard during the breeding season.

17. Buteos

Buteos, also known as buzzard hawks, are a group of large, broad-winged raptors that include many of the hawks we’ve discussed, such as the Red-tailed Hawk and the Swainson’s Hawk. Buteos are known for their soaring flight, often seen circling high in the sky.

They have broad wings and short, wide tails, making them well-suited for soaring. Buteos are typically found in open habitats, where they perch on high vantage points or soar in the sky, scanning for prey.

They feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Buteos are a testament to the rich biodiversity of Texas, each species adding its unique touch to the state’s natural heritage.

18. Great Black Hawk

The Great Black Hawk, a large raptor, is a rare visitor to Texas. This hawk is known for its almost entirely black plumage, with a distinctive white tail band. With its broad, rounded wings and long tail,

the Great Black Hawk is a powerful presence in the skies, often seen soaring high above the ground. Great Black Hawks are typically found near water, where they feed on a variety of prey, including fish, amphibians, and small mammals.

They have a unique hunting style, often perching quietly near water before swooping down to catch their prey. Their call, a high-pitched, piercing whistle, is often heard during the breeding season.

Popular Hawk Spotting Places In Texas

High Island

High Island, located on the upper Texas coast, is a renowned birding hotspot. During the spring migration, this area becomes a haven for a variety of bird species, including hawks. The Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary and the Boy Scout Woods are particularly popular spots.

Here, you can witness the spectacular sight of hawks soaring high in the sky, riding the thermals as they scan the ground for prey.

South Padre Island

South Padre Island, located on the tropical tip of Texas, is a paradise for bird watchers. The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center offers excellent opportunities to spot a variety of hawks,

especially during the migration season. The boardwalks over the wetlands provide a unique vantage point to observe these magnificent raptors in action.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Located in the Texas Hill Country, the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is a prime location for hawk spotting. The refuge’s diverse habitats attract a variety of hawk species.

The Warbler Vista and Sunset Deck are particularly good spots for bird watching, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape where hawks often soar.

Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park, located southwest of Houston, is a fantastic place to spot hawks. The park’s diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, and prairies, attract a variety of wildlife.

The park’s extensive trail system allows visitors to explore these habitats and spot hawks perched in the trees or soaring overhead.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, located on the upper Texas coast, is a haven for a variety of bird species, including hawks.

The refuge’s wetlands and prairies provide excellent opportunities for bird watching. The Shoveler Pond Loop and the Skillern Tract are particularly good spots for hawk spotting.

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park, located in West Texas, offers some of the best bird watching opportunities in the state. The park’s vast expanses of desert, mountains, and river canyons attract a variety of hawk species.

The Chisos Basin and the Rio Grande Village are popular spots for bird watching, offering the chance to spot hawks soaring against the backdrop of the stunning landscape.

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge

The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, located west of Houston, is a prime location for spotting hawks. The refuge’s tallgrass prairie provides an excellent habitat for a variety of bird species.

The refuge’s auto tour route and hiking trails offer visitors the chance to spot hawks perched on fence posts or soaring overhead.