Sky Impersonators: 11 Birds That Look Like Hawks

The Red-Tailed Hawk is a bird of prey that is commonly found across North America. This adaptable raptor is known for its brick-red tail, which is most noticeable in adults from above or underneath. The diet of the Red-Tailed Hawk is very diverse, including small mammals like mice and squirrels, as well as birds and reptiles.

This hawk is often seen perched on poles or soaring in wide circles high above fields, forests, and highways. Its habitat is extremely varied, ranging from desert and scrublands to forests and tropical rainforests. Its call, a raspy, screaming kee-eeeee-arr, is often used in movies to represent any bird of prey.

The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey native to North America, most recognizable for its striking features: a white head and tail contrasted by a dark brown body. This raptor primarily feeds on fish, which it catches with its strong, sharp talons. Bald Eagles are renowned for their impressive flight skills and can reach high speeds in the air.

Their nests, or eyries, are some of the largest of any bird species, often built near bodies of water in tall trees or cliffs for an optimal view of their surroundings. Bald Eagles have a significant cultural status in the United States, serving as the national bird and a symbol of freedom.

The Golden Eagle is a powerful raptor found across the Northern Hemisphere, known for its impressive agility and speed in flight. Its name comes from the beautiful golden feathers that adorn the back of its head and neck. These birds of prey are versatile hunters, feeding on a wide range of animals including rabbits, squirrels, and even larger prey like foxes and young deer.

Preferred habitats are typically in mountainous regions, but they can also be found in a variety of environments including deserts and plains. Golden Eagles are solitary creatures, often found alone or in pairs, and they build their nests, or eyries, high on cliff faces or in tall trees.

The Northern Harrier is a bird of prey that belongs to the Circinae subfamily and stands out due to its distinctively owl-like facial disk, slender body, and long tail. This species exhibits a low and slow flying pattern when hunting, often skimming just above the ground of open fields and marshes. The males are predominantly gray, while the females and young are brown with streaks of white.

Northern Harriers primarily feed on small mammals and birds. Unique among hawks, these birds possess an owl-like trait of using auditory cues as well as visual ones to locate and catch prey. They’re also known for their polygynous breeding system, where a male may have up to five mates at once, each nesting in different locations within his territory.

The Northern Goshawk is a large bird of prey and the largest member of the Accipiter genus. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, it’s characterized by its slate-gray upperparts, finely barred underparts, and prominent white eyebrow stripe. The name “goshawk” originates from the Old English term for “goose hawk,” denoting the bird’s prowess at hunting large prey.

Northern Goshawks inhabit large, uninterrupted forests, where they are skilled hunters of a wide range of prey, including small mammals and medium to large birds. They are particularly agile fliers, often chasing prey through densely forested environments. These hawks are monogamous, with pairs often returning to the same nesting territory year after year. Their nests are built high in trees, and their breeding season is heralded by spectacular aerial displays and a loud, repetitive ‘kak-kak-kak’ call.

The Common Buzzard is a widely seen bird of prey across Europe and parts of Asia, known for its robust build and broad, rounded wings.

Appearance: Common Buzzards display variation in their plumage, ranging from very dark brown to much lighter shades. They typically feature a spread tail and broad, rounded wings in flight. When perched, their sturdy build and keen eyes are noticeable, contributing to their formidable reputation as predators.

Diet: The Common Buzzard’s diet primarily consists of small mammals, birds, and carrion. Their hunting style is often a patient one, as they perch in trees or on posts, waiting for the opportune moment to strike their prey.

Reproduction: The nesting sites of Common Buzzards are usually trees where they build large nests. The female typically lays between 2 to 4 eggs.

The American Kestrel, often referred to as the Sparrow Hawk, is the smallest and most common falcon in North America, known for its vivid coloration and speedy flight.

Appearance: The American Kestrel is a colorful bird, with males featuring a blue-grey head and wings contrasting with a rusty-orange back and tail. Females are less brightly colored but still display a similar pattern. They both have a notable black dash on their cheeks.

Diet: As opportunistic predators, American Kestrels feed on a variety of small animals, including insects, small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They have excellent eyesight that enables them to spot prey from high above, before diving down at impressive speeds to make a catch.

Reproduction: American Kestrels typically nest in cavities, often those previously made by woodpeckers. The female lays a clutch of about 4 to 5 eggs.

The Prairie Falcon is a raptor found in the open landscapes of western North America. Its appearance is often compared to the Peregrine Falcon, though it is generally smaller and has a lighter coloration with a cream to gray-brown body and darker wingtips. The Prairie Falcon is a powerful hunter, preying on small mammals and birds, which it catches in mid-air or on the ground after a high-speed chase. Unlike many other raptors, it often hunts in the heat of the day. The preferred habitats of this bird are deserts, grasslands, and the shrubby areas of the Great Plains, which reflect its name. Their nests are usually scraped out on cliff ledges. Known for their aggressive nature, Prairie Falcons will fiercely defend their nests against intruders.

The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey that can be found in regions all over the world, from Europe and Asia to Australia and parts of Africa.

Appearance: Black Kites are predominantly brown with a dark rufous coloration on the back of their heads and necks. They have a forked tail, which differentiates them from other types of kites, and their wingtips are black, which give them their name and they have yellow legs. Juveniles have lighter and more mottled plumage than adults.

Diet: These birds are opportunistic hunters and are known to eat a wide variety of foods, from fish and small mammals to carrion and invertebrates. They can also frequently be seen scavenging near human habitations.

Reproduction: Black Kites typically nest in tall trees, where they build large, untidy nests out of sticks and lined with softer materials. Females typically lay 2 to 3 eggs, which are incubated for about 30-32 days.

The Osprey, is a unique bird of prey found almost worldwide. It’s distinct for its diet, as it feeds almost exclusively on fish, diving feet-first to catch its prey in bodies of water. This bird is easily identifiable by its dark brown back, contrasting with its white underparts and head, and a distinctive dark eye-stripe that extends to the sides of the neck.

Ospreys are known for their incredible ability to hover in the air while locating fish below, before plunging into the water for the catch. Their nests, made of sticks and lined with softer material, are usually built in open surroundings for easy approach, often on top of trees, poles, or platforms specifically designed to encourage Osprey habitation.

The Peregrine Falcon, famous for its exceptional speed and hunting prowess, is a well-known bird of prey found across the globe.

Appearance: Peregrine Falcons have a robust build with long, pointed wings and a short tail. Their back and long-pointed wings are slate gray, while the underparts are pale with fine, dark bars. The head is dark, and they have a distinctive “moustache” that contrasts sharply with the white throat.

Diet: Peregrine Falcons primarily feed on other birds, such as pigeons and doves, waterfowl, songbirds, and waders. They are famed for their speed, capable of reaching over 240 miles per hour during high-speed dives to strike prey out of the sky.

Reproduction: Peregrine Falcons often nest on tall structures such as cliff edges or even skyscrapers. The female usually lays three to four eggs, and both parents share incubation duties.

The Merlin, or “pigeon hawk” as it’s often referred to, is a compact and powerful bird of prey that is known for its agility and speed.

Appearance: Merlins have a slender, compact body with a broad-winged and long-tailed silhouette. Their color varies, with males exhibiting a bluish-gray back and a pale, finely barred chest and belly, while females and juveniles are brownish above with a heavily streaked, buff-colored underside.

Diet: These falcons primarily prey on small to medium-sized birds, including sparrows, starlings, and even other small falcons. They are known for their acrobatic flight patterns, and often catch their prey in mid-air.

Reproduction: Merlins typically do not build their own nests, instead, they prefer to take over old crow or hawk nests, or even use a tree hollow. They generally lay 4 to 5 eggs.