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Zone-tailed Hawk Identification

Zone-tailed Hawk Adult
Adult

Medium-sized raptor with broad wings. Often mistaken for a Turkey Vulture, but note large white band on tail and dark trailing edges on wings. With good looks upper bands on tail are also visible.

© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 04, 2004
Zone-tailed Hawk Adult
Adult

Medium-sized all-dark raptor with yellow legs and bill.

© Anne (Webster) Leight | Macaulay LibraryArizona, September 10, 2016
Zone-tailed Hawk Adult
Adult

Arched wings and a "tippy" flying style makes Zone-tailed Hawks resemble Turkey Vultures in flight. However, a bold white tail band helps separate these species in the field.

© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 12, 2006
Zone-tailed Hawk Immature
Immature

Immatures have finely barred outer flight feathers and a barred tail. Immatures also show dark trailing edges on the wings.

© Lindsay Story | Macaulay LibraryArizona, November 07, 2015
Zone-tailed Hawk Immature
Immature

Perched immatures look all dark with a barred tail.

© Wyatt Egelhoff | Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, August 06, 2016
Zone-tailed Hawk Adult
Adult

Zone-tailed Hawks build their nests within dense mixed evergreen-deciduous forests often on north-facing mountain slopes or near cliffs adjacent to streams.

© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1995
Zone-tailed Hawk Adult
Adult

Found in dry, semiopen country, especially deciduous or pine-oak woodlands, often nesting in tall trees along streams.

© Jerome Foster | Macaulay LibrarySiparia, July 09, 2016
Zone-tailed Hawk Adult with Turkey Vultures
Adult with Turkey Vultures

Often soars high with Turkey Vultures (top) when banding on the tail can be difficult to see. The bird at the bottom center shows one broad white tail band indicative of Zone-tailed Hawk.

© Jeff Bray | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 23, 2016
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Adult Description

Medium-sized to large hawk. Slaty black overall. Tail with two or three light bands. Underwings two-toned, with dark linings and paler flight feathers. Legs and skin on face yellow. Wings held up in slight V when soaring.

Immature Description

Juvenile slightly darker and more brownish than adult; often with white spotting on underparts and around head; tail with many narrow, blackish bands.
Relative Size

Relative Sizebetween crow and goosebetween crow and goose
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 17.7-22.1 in (45-56 cm)
    • Weight: 4.2-4.9 oz (119-140 g)
    • Wingspan: 46.9-55.1 in (119-140 cm)

Species in This Family

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family:Accipitridae)

White-tailed KiteWhite-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed KiteSwallow-tailed Kite
Golden EagleGolden Eagle
Snail KiteSnail Kite
Mississippi KiteMississippi Kite
Northern HarrierNorthern Harrier
Sharp-shinned HawkSharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's HawkCooper's Hawk
Northern GoshawkNorthern Goshawk
Bald EagleBald Eagle
White-tailed HawkWhite-tailed Hawk
Gray HawkGray Hawk
Red-shouldered HawkRed-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged HawkBroad-winged Hawk
Swainson's HawkSwainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed HawkZone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed HawkRed-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged HawkRough-legged Hawk
Ferruginous HawkFerruginous Hawk
Harris's HawkHarris's Hawk

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