Florida has many different natural areas that are home to a lot of wildlife. One of the most interesting animals there are the Florida hawks. These strong birds help keep nature balanced by eating rodents. Hawks have very good eyesight, strong claws, and are great hunters. They are amazing to watch for people who love birds and nature.
In this article, we are going to provide information about these fabulous creatures based on the experience and other sources. Let’s dive deep into Florida hawks, their behavior, and comparisons between their species
Table of Contents
- Red-shouldered Hawk – A Prominent Example of Florida Hawks
- Red-tailed Hawk – A Very Common of Florida Hawks
- Sharp-shinned Hawk – A Small but Agile Florida Hawk
- Cooper’s Hawk – A Stealthy Florida Hawk
- Comparison Table – Florida Hawks
- Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Hawks
- Conclusion
Red-shouldered Hawk – A Prominent Example of Florida Hawks
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey. This hawk has red shoulders, a black-and-white striped tail, and a bold white and brown pattern on its underside. It also has dark eyes and a hooked beak.
Habitat: It lives in mixed forests, swamps, and near rivers. It likes areas with lots of trees and water nearby.
Nesting Habits: The hawk builds its nest in large trees, often near water. The nest is made of sticks and lined with soft materials like moss and leaves. Pairs are very territorial and usually use the same nest every year.
Hunting: It hunts from a perch, mainly eating small mammals and reptiles like frogs and lizards. It uses its sharp eyesight to spot prey from high up.
Sounds and Communication: The hawk makes a high-pitched “kee-kee-kee” or “kree-kree-kree” call, especially during the breeding season and when defending its territory. It also uses body language and flight displays to communicate.
Comparison with Other Hawks: Unlike the Red-tailed Hawk, which likes open areas, the Red-shouldered Hawk prefers wooded and river areas. It eats more amphibians and reptiles than other hawks in Florida.
Red-tailed Hawk – A Very Common of Florida Hawks
The Red-tailed Hawk is a large bird of prey. Its wingspan is 45 to 52 inches, and its body length is 18 to 26 inches. Red-tailed Hawks have feathers that are reddish-brown, especially on their tails. These feathers often have red and brown stripes, with a black line near the end. Red-tailed Hawk feathers are wide and strong, which helps the hawk fly and hunt.
This hawk has a pale belly with dark streaks and a dark brown back. Its wings are broad with a mottled pattern. It has a strong beak and claws for catching prey.
Environment: The Red-tailed Hawk can live in many places, like open fields, forests, and even cities. It likes areas with some height for hunting and a mix of open space and trees.
Nesting Habits: It builds its nest high in trees or on cliffs. The nest is large and made of sticks, lined with soft materials like leaves and moss. Pairs often use the same nest every year and add to it each season.
Food: The Red-tailed Hawk soars in the sky to spot prey. It eats small mammals, birds, and reptiles. It dives from the air to catch its prey.
Communication: Its call is a high-pitched, descending “kreeeer” or “kreeee.” You can hear it during flight or when it defends its territory. The call is also used in flight displays to talk to other hawks.
Differences in Habitat and Behavior Compared to Other Florida Hawks: Unlike the Red-shouldered Hawk, which likes dense forests and areas near water, the Red-tailed Hawk prefers open landscapes and has a wider range of habitats.
Sharp-shinned Hawk – A Small but Agile Florida Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small bird of prey. It has a wingspan of about 22-30 inches and a body length of 9.4-13 inches. It has a slim body, short, rounded wings, and long, thin legs.
Distinctive Features: Its back is usually blue-gray, and its belly is white with dark streaks. The tail is long and square with dark bands. This hawk is small and can fly quickly through thick trees.
Preferred Environments: This hawk likes dense forests with a mix of different trees. It is often found in places with thick tree cover for hunting and nesting.
Nesting: The Sharp-shinned Hawk builds its nest in thick tree leaves or bushes. The nest is a small platform made of sticks and lined with soft materials like moss. It is usually high up in a tree, hidden from predators.
What does a Sharp-shinned Hawk Eat? This hawk is fast and agile. It hunts small birds and insects by flying quickly through thick vegetation to surprise its prey. It mainly eats small songbirds and insects.
Communication: The Sharp-shinned Hawk makes a high-pitched “kik-kik-kik” call, especially during the breeding season or when talking to its mate. This call helps them find each other and defend their territory.
Comparison with Other Florida Hawks: Unlike the larger Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk, which prefer open fields and woodlands, the Sharp-shinned Hawk likes dense forests.
Cooper’s Hawk – A Stealthy Florida Hawk
Another species is the Cooper’s Hawk, a medium-sized bird of prey. It has a wingspan of 29-37 inches and a body length of 14-20 inches. It has a strong build with long legs and a long tail to help it fly through thick trees.
Distinctive Features: Its back is blue-gray, and its underside is white with reddish-brown stripes. The tail has dark and light bands. It has a large head and bright yellow eyes.
Environments: Cooper’s Hawks live in different places like forests, mixed woodlands, and areas with many trees, even in suburbs.
Nesting: They build large nests high in trees, using sticks and lining them with soft materials like moss and feathers. They often reuse old nests.
What does a Sharp-shinned Hawk Eat? Cooper’s Hawks are fast and agile hunters. They mainly hunt small to medium-sized birds and sometimes mammals by flying quickly through dense trees to surprise their prey.
Communication: They make a “kek-kek-kek” sound, especially during breeding season or when defending their territory. Their calls are loud and can be heard from far away.
Comparison with Other Florida Hawks: Unlike the Red-tailed Hawk, which likes open fields and eats a variety of animals, the Cooper’s Hawk prefers forests and mainly hunts other birds. It is smaller and more agile than the Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks.
Comparison Table – Florida Hawks
| Aspect | Red-tailed Hawk | Red-shouldered Hawk | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Cooper’s Hawk |
| Size (Wingspan, Length) | Wingspan: 45-52 inches Length: 18-26 inches | Wingspan: 40-46 inches Length: 17-24 inches | Wingspan: 22-30 inches Length: 9.4-13 inches | Wingspan: 29-37 inches Length: 14-20 inches |
| Distinctive Features | Reddish-brown tail, pale underbelly with dark streaks, dark brown back | Reddish-brown shoulders, black-and-white striped tail, mottled brown and white chest | Blue-gray back, white underside with fine dark streaks, long squared tail | Blue-gray back, reddish-brown barring on white underside, long banded tail |
| Preferred Habitats | Open fields, woodlands, urban areas | Mixed woodlands, swamps, riverbanks | Dense forests, wooded areas | Deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, suburban areas |
| Nesting Habits | Large nests in trees or on cliffs, reused annually | Nests in large trees near water, reused annually | Nests in dense foliage or shrubs, well-hidden | Nests high in trees in dense foliage, reused annually |
| Hunting Techniques | Soaring flight, feeds on small mammals, birds, and reptiles | Hunts from a perch, feeds on small mammals, amphibians, reptiles | Agile, hunts small birds and insects in dense vegetation | Swift and agile, hunts small to medium-sized birds and mammals |
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Hawks
Yes, hawks are protected in Florida. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 protects all birds of prey, including hawks. This law makes it illegal to hunt, capture, kill, or keep these birds, their nests, or their eggs without a special permit.
Hawks in Florida eat many different small animals. What they eat depends on the type of hawk and where they live.
For hawk watching in Florida, you need Binoculars (8x-10x), a spotting scope, a bird field guide and a camera with a telephoto lens.
Florida is home to several hawk species, including the Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Broad-winged Hawk.
Conclusion
In Florida, there are different types of hawks like the Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Cooper’s Hawk. Each type of hawk is important for keeping nature balanced. These hawks have some things in common, but they also have differences in size, looks, where they live, and how they hunt.
Even though they are different, all these hawks help the environment by controlling the number of rodents and birds. They are not in danger of disappearing, but it is still important to protect their homes. Learning about these amazing birds helps us appreciate Florida’s nature and shows why it is important to protect their habitats.
While this article highlights the remarkable hawk species of Florida, bird enthusiasts interested in crested woodland birds can explore their counterparts in our feature on Top 5 Crested Woodland Birds Found Worldwide.
