The skies above Missouri are a stage for some of nature’s most magnificent aerialists: the hawks.
These birds of prey, or raptors, are a testament to power, grace, and survival. With keen eyesight, sharp talons, and a mastery of flight, hawks play a critical role in the state's ecosystem, from the sprawling fields of the Bootheel to the dense forests of the Ozarks.
For many, spotting a hawk circling high overhead or perched regally on a fence post is a thrilling sight. This guide will help you navigate the world of these incredible raptors, providing you with the knowledge to identify the most common hawk species in Missouri and where you can find them.
Hawks of Missouri
1. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
The Red-tailed Hawk is, without a doubt, the most frequently seen hawk in Missouri. A permanent resident, it is an iconic sight, often perched on telephone poles and fence posts along highways, patiently scanning the ground for prey. Its distinctive, high-pitched scream—a sound often used in movies to represent the Bald Eagle—is a familiar call across the American landscape.
Appearance: This is a large, stocky hawk with broad, rounded wings. The adult’s most famous feature is its brick-red tail, which is particularly visible when the bird is in flight or banking. From below, its light underparts are offset by a noticeable dark belly band and dark bars on the leading edge of its underwings. The back and upperwings are a mottled brown. Juveniles, however, do not have the red tail. Instead, their tail is banded with brown and white, and it can be a source of confusion for new birders.
Habitat and Behavior: Red-tailed Hawks are incredibly versatile, thriving in a wide variety of open habitats. You’ll find them in fields, pastures, prairies, and open woodlands. Their hunting style is often a patient one, involving long periods of perching before a swift, powerful dive to catch a rodent, snake, or rabbit. Their ability to adapt to human-dominated landscapes makes them a common sight even near urban areas.
2. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
In contrast to the soaring, open-country Red-tailed Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk is a master of maneuverability, built for hunting in dense forests and suburban backyards. This hawk, and its smaller cousin the Sharp-shinned Hawk, belong to a group called accipiters, known for their short, rounded wings and long tails, which act as rudders for navigating through trees at high speeds.
Appearance: Cooper’s Hawks have a sleek, agile body. Adults have a blue-gray back and a rusty-barred chest. Their long, rounded tail has a series of dark bands with a white tip. A distinctive feature is their capped head, which gives them a somewhat severe look. They are often confused with the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk, but the Cooper’s Hawk is noticeably larger, with a larger, blockier head.
Habitat and Behavior: Cooper's Hawks are year-round residents in Missouri, primarily found in mature forests and suburban areas with a good tree cover. Their diet consists mostly of smaller birds, which they catch with stunning speed and agility, often in a surprise ambush from a hidden perch. A frequent sight at backyard feeders, they are not there to eat seed, but to hunt the birds that do.
3. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest of Missouri’s accipiters and a common sight during spring and fall migration, though some individuals may overwinter or nest in the state. Its similarity to the Cooper's Hawk is a frequent point of confusion for even experienced birders.
Appearance: The Sharp-shinned Hawk is essentially a miniature version of the Cooper’s Hawk. Like its larger cousin, it has a blue-gray back and a rusty-barred chest. However, it is smaller, with a proportionally smaller head and a square-tipped tail (as opposed to the rounded tail of the Cooper’s Hawk). Its flight is characterized by a rapid series of wing beats followed by a glide, and its small size makes it appear almost frantic in the air.
Habitat and Behavior: Sharp-shinned Hawks prefer dense forests for nesting, but can be seen in a variety of habitats during migration. They are incredibly quick and specialize in hunting small songbirds. They are a common sight at feeders in the winter, where they seek out unwary sparrows, finches, and chickadees.
4. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
The Broad-winged Hawk is a small hawk with a distinct migratory behavior that makes it a must-see in the fall. While a common summer resident in Missouri's forests, it is most famous for its incredible journey south for the winter.
Appearance: This is a small, chunky hawk with a brownish back and a lightly barred, whitish underside. Its most notable field marks are visible in flight: its broad wings and a tail with a few wide, dark bands separated by narrow white ones. Unlike many other hawks, its call is a thin, high-pitched whistle, often described as "kee-eeeee."
Habitat and Behavior: Broad-winged Hawks are birds of the forest, preferring to nest in large deciduous trees. During the breeding season, they can be a bit elusive. However, their behavior changes dramatically during fall migration. They gather in massive flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, called "kettles." These kettles use rising thermals to gain altitude and then glide south, a spectacular event that can be observed from certain vantage points in the state.
5. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
The Northern Harrier is a truly unique hawk species in Missouri, both in appearance and hunting style. It is a common winter resident and a rare breeder, most often seen gliding low over open fields and marshes.
Appearance: This is a long, slender hawk with long wings and a long tail. The male is pale gray, while the female and juveniles are a warm brown. A key feature that all harriers share is a bright white patch on the rump, which is highly visible as the bird flies away. Its face has a disc of feathers, similar to an owl’s, that helps it to hear its prey.
Habitat and Behavior: Northern Harriers are exclusively birds of open country. They are found in prairies, marshes, and agricultural fields. Their hunting style is a memorable sight; they fly low and slowly, rocking from side to side as they use their exceptional hearing and vision to locate voles, mice, and other small mammals hiding in the vegetation.
6. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Often overshadowed by its more common cousin, the Red-tailed Hawk, the Red-shouldered Hawk is a beautiful and vocal species that calls Missouri’s bottomland forests and wetlands home. It is a permanent resident, though its populations have declined in some areas due to habitat loss.
Appearance: This medium-sized hawk has a rich, reddish-brown and white checkered pattern on its chest and belly, with dark brown on its back. The namesake reddish shoulders are a field mark, but they can be difficult to see. More easily identified features are its black and white-banded tail and the translucent crescent-shaped patches at the base of its primary feathers, which are visible from below in flight. Its call is a loud, ringing series of "kee-aah" sounds.
Habitat and Behavior: Red-shouldered Hawks are strongly associated with water. They are most commonly found in mature deciduous forests, especially near rivers, swamps, and other wetlands. Their diet includes small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. They are highly territorial and their distinct call can often be heard echoing through the forested river bottoms they inhabit.
Finding and Identifying Missouri’s Hawks
To successfully identify and find hawks in Missouri, here are a few tips:
- Go to the Right Places: For Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harriers, drive through rural areas with open fields and pastures. For accipiters like Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, check wooded parks and backyards with bird feeders. To find Broad-winged and Red-shouldered Hawks, head to the Mark Twain National Forest or state conservation areas with large, mature stands of trees and proximity to water.
- Look for Shape and Size: Pay attention to the hawk's silhouette. Is it a bulky, broad-winged buteo like the Red-tailed, or a slender, long-tailed accipiter like the Cooper's? Is it a unique shape like the Northern Harrier's long wings and tail?
- Observe Flight Patterns: Does it soar in wide circles like a Red-tailed Hawk, or does it fly with quick wing beats and glides like a Sharp-shinned Hawk? Does it fly low over fields, rocking back and forth like a Northern Harrier?
- Listen for Calls: Many hawks have very distinct calls. Learning the loud "kee-aah" of the Red-shouldered Hawk or the harsh scream of the Red-tailed Hawk can be a great way to identify them before you even see them.
Where Can You See Missouri Hawks?
Missouri is a wildlife haven with over 90 state parks. Hence, you're not short of exciting birding destinations.
Some of the best birding destinations are:
Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge
The Northern Harrier lives here during winter, and this sanctuary has observation points.
Roaring River State Park
It's in the serene Ozarks region, and you'll spot the broad-winged hawks here during the breeding season.
St. Louis Urban Oasis
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park and Tower Grove Park will treat you to a memorable birding tour. The mature hardwood trees there replaced the indigenous vegetation due to urbanization. However, these forested areas still attract numerous birds, including hawks. Also, visit Meramec Highlands for sightings of Red-shouldered Hawks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Kill Hawks In Missouri?
No, it is illegal to kill hawks in Missouri. All hawks and other raptors are protected by both federal and state laws. Specifically, the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects over 800 species of birds, including hawks, from being killed, captured, sold, or shipped without a special permit. The Missouri Department of Conservation also explicitly states that it is illegal to kill any raptor.
What Do Hawks Eat?
Hawks are carnivores, and their diet can vary significantly depending on the species and the available prey in their habitat. In general, they eat a variety of small animals, but different types of hawks specialize in different foods.
For instance, the Red-tailed Hawk hunt small mammals like rodents (like mice, rats, and voles), rabbits, and snakes. They are often seen perched on telephone poles or in trees along highways, watching for prey in open fields.
The Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, on the other hand are built for hunting in wooded areas. They are incredibly agile and specialize in catching other birds, including songbirds, starlings, pigeons, and doves.
Wrapping Up
From the familiar to the elusive, Missouri’s hawk species offer an exciting challenge for any nature enthusiast. Learning to identify these powerful birds not only enriches your outdoor experiences but also deepens your understanding of the state's complex and beautiful ecosystem.
Some, like the bird hunting Sharp-shinned Hawk may even be an unwelcome visitor to your backyard. Other species prefer deep forests instead of open lands or near human settlements, so you may require a birding tour to see them.
