![]() They tend to swoop over large fields and valleys looking for rodents or other prey. If you haven’t yet, keep your eye out for these short-tailed, rounded-wing beauties. Where to Find ThemĬommon all over North America, chances are you’ve seen one simply driving around town. The easiest way to distinguish them from the Cooper’s Hawk and the Sharp-Shinned Hawk is their significantly larger size and the distinctive white band that acts as an eyebrow over their sharp red eyes. They have a particularly long tail that acts as a rudder, allowing them agility and grace in flight. Northern Goshawks are mostly gray and white. There are records of them attacking humans for getting too close! But if you’re abiding by Leave No Trace principles and intend on keeping your distance, your best chance at seeing them is in mid-to-late November. These secretive creatures tend to keep to the deep forests and are fiercely protective of their nests. The Northern Goshawk is one of the harder birds to identify on this list primarily because they don’t like to be found. The Cooper’s Hawk will have a more rounded tail. Look to the tail for distinguishing factors between these two. ![]() They also share a similar coloration to the Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Cooper’s Hawks are more common and more likely to be seen but they closely resemble their cousins the Northern Goshawks. Turns out, mushrooms and plants are not the only species with closely aligned lookalikes. They also tend to have a striped breast but one of their most helpful identifiers is the black-banned tail that ends in a fringe of white. Identifying Featuresīluish gray backs meet a darker, nearly black cap on Cooper’s Hawks. While they tend towards other birds like woodpeckers and doves, Cooper’s Hawks tend to be opportunistic and eat whatever they can get. When it comes to hunting they become both more powerful and agile as they swoop down on what is likely an unsuspecting bird, rodent, or reptile. Red-eyed adults and yellow-eyed youth, Cooper’s Hawks can be seen giving a few powerful strokes of their wings and then gliding in flight. Keep your eye on the treeline and scan the forest’s edge. White underwings, acrobatic flying, and the stripes of orange and white across their chest will be the most easily identified features. While they may be a predator to these songbirds, Sharp-Shinned Hawks are the prey of the much larger Northern Goshawk. Quick and mischievous beings, they tend to surprise their prey which is often made up of other small birds like sparrows and robins. ![]() Being on the smaller side for hawks, with long tails and short bodies, they easily dive through the conifer forests they tend to make their home in. With fire in their eyes, ribbons of orange and white across their breast, and a bridge of yellow along their beaks, these incredible creatures may be most notable for their acrobatic gliding. You May Also Like: The 22 Types Of Hawks, Legendary Birds Of Prey : Pictures + Facts The 9 Species of Hawks in Michigan 1. Hawks in Michigan Infographic by Outforia
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