But if they are airborne, good luck figuring out which one you are observing! The BEST way to tell these hawks apart is to look at the size difference. Their steely blue-gray appearance is nearly identical to the Sharp-shinned hawk, right down to the little black cap that both wear and the rufous colored chest. Visually, a Cooper’s Hawk looks incredibly similar to the Sharp-shinned Hawk (#2). At my feeding station, I have observed these hawks preying on Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and Mourning Doves. I see them often at my house in high-speed chases through the canopy going after their prey.īecause of their incredible flying abilities, these raptors primarily eat songbirds and are common to see in backyards around bird feeders. Cooper’s Hawks are known for their flying agility. These raptors are commonly found in the United States in woods or on the edge of fields. Individuals give a high-pitched shrill “kik-kik-kik” which is typically repeated several times. One way to verify you have seen a Sharp-shinned Hawk is to listen for their sounds. Press PLAY below to hear a Sharp-shinned Hawk! In my backyard, I see them catching Mourning Doves the most. RELATED: 9 LIVE Bird Feeder Cams From Around the World! (Including mine).These raptors are ambush predators, sitting patiently and then dashing out from cover at high speed to chase birds, which make up 90% of their diet. They are most often seen around bird feeders, hunting and preying on the songbirds that come to visit. These raptors are common in forested areas in the United States. Females are considerably bigger than males. When they are flying, their wings are relatively short and rounded, but with a long tail. To identify these birds, look for bars of orange on their upper chest that fades towards the belly and blue-gray back and wings. It’s common to see these raptors zipping through the woods or by your bird feeders in a blur of motion! Sharp-shinned Hawks are one of the smallest birds of prey in the United States, and they are incredibly athletic and acrobatic. RELATED: 6 LIVE Backyard Animal Cams From Around the World!.In case you have never heard one, Bald Eagles don’t make sounds that live up to their appearance (putting it nicely!) In fact, people are so enamored with their screams, it’s common for directors to use the sounds of a Red-tailed Hawk to replace Bald Eagles that appear in movies. Red-tailed Hawks have impressive calls that are easily identified. I have seen Red-tailed Hawks in numerous places, from the deep backcountry in Yellowstone National Park to urban cities to my own suburban backyard! Pick a habitat, such as pastures, parks, deserts, roadsides, rainforests, woodlands, fields, or scrublands, and you’ll find them thriving. These hawks are highly adaptable, and there is no real description of their preferred habitats because they seem to be comfortable everywhere. The best way to identify them is by looking for their characteristic red tail. The color of a Red-tailed Hawk’s plumage can be anything from nearly white to virtually black, so coloration is not a reliable indicator. These large raptors are often seen on long drives in the countryside, soaring in the sky or perched on a fence post. Red-tailed Hawks are one of the most prevalent birds of prey in the United States! Falcons, Eagles, & Vultures (#20 – #26).Click the link to jump straight to that section! *RELATED: Watch the LIVE bird feeder and animal cameras in MY backyard* (You may get lucky and see a hawk hunting on my cams RIGHT NOW!).Today, you will learn about 26 types of raptors that live in the United States! Luckily, in the United States, there are many species in all sorts of different habitats. Raptors are popular animals that tend to catch people’s interest more than most other species. This question is common, both for birders and non-birders alike. What kinds of birds of prey can you find in the United States?
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