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Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus ORDER: ACCIPITRIFORMES FAMILY: ACCIPITRIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A small, stocky, forest-dwelling hawk of eastern deciduous forests, the Broad-winged Hawk is hard to see on its nesting grounds. It becomes more conspicuous on migration when it congregates into flocks and passes by hawk migration lookouts in the thousands.

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Appearance

Hawks
Hawks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized hawk.
  • Body stout.
  • Wings broad.
  • Wings pale, with dark trailing edge.
  • Tail medium-short.
  • Tail dark with one thick white band in middle, and one thinner near tail base and tip.
  • Face dark.
  • Chest reddish, reddish barring along sides.
  • Throat white.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult, but underparts white with streaks down center of breast, and tail buff with thin dark bands.

Range Map Help

Broad-winged Hawk Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Broad-winged Hawk

    Adult
    • © Mike Danzenbaker
  • Immature
    Zoom In

    Broad-winged Hawk

    Immature
    • © Kevin T. Karlson

Similar Species

  • Red-shouldered Hawk has reddish shoulders, a more solid orange chest, longer legs, barring on the wing feathers, and its wingtips are less pointed. The Red-shouldered Hawk also has a banded tail, but the white bands are narrower than the black, while the Broad-winged Hawk's central white band is as wide as the black bands.
  • Cooper's Hawk has a much longer tail that extends well beyond the wing tips, a paler face, and a dark cap.