Meet Your Local Hawks

On the side of the road, a big bird perches on a power pole, silent as a statue. Suddenly it plunges to the ground below. In a flash of feathers, an unsuspecting shrew has become a tasty meal for a red-tailed hawk.

Hawks are premier predators of the bird world. They survive by capturing and eating rodents, frogs, insects, birds, and other small animals. And they are well-equipped for the job! Their outsized, front-facing eyes allow them to see tiny things far away and in 3D. In place of toenails, their feet have needle-sharp hooked talons that can quickly snatch and cling tightly to a prospective meal. Their large, curved beaks have a point at the end that can stab and tear their prey into bite-sized bits.

Minnesota is home to nine species of hawks. To many people, they might look a lot alike. But once you know where to look and what to look for, you can become an expert at identifying—and introducing your friends to—these magnificent birds.

Three Types. Minnesota’s hawks come in three main kinds: buteos, accipiters, and one harrier. Buteos, which are common in both forests and more open spaces, have large, wide wings they use to soar high above the ground in search of rodents and other prey. Accipiters, which often live in forests, have short wings and long tails that help them steer as they chase songbirds on the wing in between trees. They often fly with a flap-flap-glide rhythm. The harrier, a hawk of open country, hunts by flying low to the ground. It has long wings and a long tail it uses to glide while looking for small mammals and birds.

As you learn to identify hawks, keep in mind that immature hawks can look very different from their parents. If you see a hawklike bird that doesn’t fit any of the descriptions here, there’s a good chance it’s a young one.