6 Types Of Hawks In Iowa (With Pictures)
Iowa is a paradise for bird lovers, with many hawks living there. You can see everything from the big Red-tailed Hawk to the rare Northern Goshawk. But can you tell each hawk apart? Let’s dive into the 10 hawk types in Iowa and learn about their looks, actions, and where they live.
What makes each hawk special, and which one might fly over your house? Explore our detailed guide to learn about Iowa’s hawks.
Hawks In Iowa
Iowa is a top spot for bird lovers, with over 430 bird species recorded. Hawks are a big part of this, flying over the state’s diverse landscapes. You can see common Iowa hawks all year and rare Iowa hawks during their hawk migration in Iowa. The state has great places for watching these birds.
Common Hawk Species
In Iowa, you can find common Iowa hawks like the Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk. The Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk also visit or live here. Their numbers change with the seasons.
Migration Patterns
The number of hawk migrations in Iowa changes with the seasons. Some hawks, like the Broad-winged Hawk, go through Iowa in spring and fall. Others, like the Rough-legged Hawk, stay in Iowa during winter.
Great places to see these hawks include Hitchcock Nature Area, Red Rock Reservoir, and Saylorville Reservoir. At these spots, you can see their flying and hunting.
1. Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a big, striking bird of prey. It’s known for its reddish-brown tail. Adults have dark brown feathers on top and lighter colors underneath, from pale to reddish-brown. When flying, you’ll see a white patch near their wingtips, which helps identify them.
Their size and unique look make them easy to spot in Iowa.
Behavior and Nesting
Red-tailed Hawks are expert hunters. They eat small animals like squirrels, rats, snakes, and smaller birds. They hunt from high spots, swooping down to catch their prey. Or they soar and circle to spot animals moving below.
These hawks build big nests in trees or on building ledges. Their nests are safe spots for raising their young.
| Red-tailed Hawk Traits | Details |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Large, bulky hawk with dark brown upperparts and varying underside coloration; distinctive reddish-brown tail |
| Hunting Behavior | Perch hunting and soaring to spot small prey, such as rodents, snakes, and small birds |
| Nesting | Construct large, messy stick nests high in trees or on building ledges |
2. Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk looks a lot like the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk but is bigger. It has a longer tail and a head that sticks out more when flying. Adults have a blue-gray back, a black cap, a red eye, and an orange-red breast.
Cooper’s hawks often visit backyard bird feeders looking for small birds and mammals. They build their nests in tall trees, using sticks and green twigs. These nests are often in old nests of bigger birds or mistletoe.
In Iowa, Cooper’s hawks are coming back in numbers. They were once endangered here but now their numbers are growing. Many of them migrate, with the most coming in late March.
Cooper’s hawks can be hard to get close to because they are so alert. But some can get used to people being near. Others stay away and are harder to see.
These hawks need to hunt a lot because they burn a lot of energy. They help keep the number of small birds in check. This keeps the ecosystem balanced.
The Cooper’s Hawk lives in North America, from southern Canada to Mexico. There are no official subspecies, but birds east of the Mississippi are usually bigger than those to the west.
Cooper’s hawks are one of three accipiter species in Iowa. Their behavior is interesting to birdwatchers and scientists. With their numbers growing, their future in Iowa looks good.
3. Northern Harrier
The Northern Harrier is a unique hawk with long wings and a long tail. It has a white rump visible when flying. Adult males are gray on top and gray below, while females and young are dark brown with pale underparts.
Unique Features
This hawk is known for its gliding flight. It hunts low over the ground, wings in a “V” shape. This helps it catch small mammals, birds, and other prey.
Hunting and Nesting Habits
They build their nests on the ground in wetlands or grasslands. These hawks are great hunters, using their sharp vision and agility. In Iowa, they are listed as Endangered and their numbers are important for bird habitats.
In the late 1980s, they were found in 29 Iowa counties. Their migration patterns are well-studied in the USA. Male Northern Harriers can have up to five mates in a season, showing their unique breeding habits.
Their feeding habits depend on the area’s prey and plants. Clutches usually have five eggs, but can have four to nine. The eggs are incubated for 30 to 32 days.
About half of Northern Harrier nests in Iowa failed over ten years. Threats include hunting and pesticides, which hurt their reproduction and made eggs thinner in the mid-20th century.
4. Rough-legged Hawk
The Rough-legged Hawk is a unique bird of prey in Iowa’s skies. It stands out with its black and white tail and white patches on its wings. This hawk comes in both pale and dark forms, making it interesting to watch.
Color Morphs
Pale females and young Rough-legged Hawks are gray-brown, with a black belly and black wing “wrists.” Darker females and young ones are mostly dark brown, but their flight feathers and tails stand out. This variety helps them hide in fields or the sky.
These hawks are skilled hunters, using their sharp claws and great vision to catch voles and small animals. They often hover and soar over grasslands, looking for food. In summer, they make big nests on cliffs or rocks in Alaska, northern Canada, and northern Eurasia.
| Rough-legged Hawk Identification | Rough-legged Hawk Color Variations | Rough-legged Hawk Hunting | Rough-legged Hawk Nesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinctive black and white tail, broad white patches near dark wing tips | Pale females and juveniles are gray-brown with black belly and “wrists”; Dark females and juveniles are predominantly dark brown | Hover and soar over open fields to capture voles and other small prey | Build bulky nests on cliffs or rocky outcroppings in tundra regions of Alaska, northern Canada, and northern Eurasia |
5. Sharp-shinned Hawk
The sharp-shinned hawk is a small, agile raptor known for its impressive hunting skills. These hawks are smaller than their relative, the Cooper’s hawk. Females are about 11-15 inches long, and males are a bit smaller at 9-12 inches. They have wingspans of 17-23 inches and weigh between 3 to 8 ounces, with females being larger.
Sharp-shinned hawks are great at hunting in dense vegetation. They catch small songbirds as their main food. They can catch birds like sparrows, warblers, finches, wrens, and even Anna’s hummingbird. About 90% of their diet is small birds.
These hawks also hunt larger prey, like the ruffed grouse. They quickly move through the forest to surprise their prey. They often jump from low places to catch their prey, unlike hunting from high up.
Sharp-shinned hawks build their nests in tall coniferous trees like pine, spruce, or fir. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which she incubates for 30-35 days. The young birds stay with their parents for 21-28 days, learning to hunt before they leave.
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6. Red-shouldered Hawk
The red-shouldered hawk stands out with its reddish-orange shoulders and underparts. It also has bold black-and-white patterns on its wings and tail. Both males and females have this eye-catching look, but females are a bit bigger.
These hawks make a loud call that sounds like “keer keer keer keer keer”. It’s a unique sound that helps identify them in the sky.
Habitat and Range
Red-shouldered hawks love living in big, old forests, especially near water. They prefer places like floodplains, riparian areas, and swamps. In Iowa, they like large, connected forests in these areas.
They can be found in southern Canada, much of the eastern and central U.S., including Iowa, and parts of Mexico. But, their numbers have dropped in some places like the upper Midwest and Atlantic Coast.
Still, they’re doing okay in most places, and some areas are seeing an increase in their numbers. To help them, we need to keep big, old forests safe and healthy. This is key to making sure red-shouldered hawks can keep living in Iowa and other places.
Some top spots for where to see hawks in Iowa are:
- Yellow River State Forest
- Hitchcock Nature Area
- Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
- Great River Birding Trail
- Dewey’s Pasture
- Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area
- Saylorville Reservoir
- Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area
- Red Rock Reservoir
- Ada Hayden Heritage Park
- Deere Dike
These best Iowa hawk-watching locations offer a mix of forests, wetlands, and even city views. They’re perfect for watching Iowa hawk migration and birdwatching.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. What hawks are common in Iowa?
Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks are common in Iowa.
Q2. What are hawks most known for?
Hawks are most known for their keen eyesight, powerful talons, and hunting skills.
Q3. What is a hawk called?
A hawk is commonly referred to simply as a “hawk,” but some specific species have unique names like Red-tailed Hawk or Cooper’s Hawk.
Q4. What kind of eagles are in Iowa?
Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles are found in Iowa.
