BROAD-WINGED HAWK
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Broad-winged Hawk adult has a reddish-brown head, and brown back and wings. Wing undersides are mostly white with brown edge. Tail is brown with a white bar and a slim white edge. Breast and belly are white with reddish-brown bars. Rump is white. Eyes are dark yellow. Hooked bill is grey, but yellow at the base. Legs and feet are yellow, talons black. Sexes are similar with females slightly larger. Bird length about 35 cm (14 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-platypterus
NAME: The English name ‘Hawk’ would stem from ‘to have’, to seize or grasp. Latin genus name ‘Buteo’ means ‘hawk’. Latin species name ‘platypterus’ means ‘broad wings’.
HABITAT: Prefers mature mixed forest.
DIET: Small reptiles and mammals, birds (hatchlings, juveniles), insects.
NESTING: Nest is built in a low part of tree. Two to five creamy eggs are laid, incubated by the female. Chicks fed by female for the most part.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in Canada (except PEI, the north and the Rockies) and eastern half of USA. Migrates to Florida, the Caribbean, Central America and northwest part of South America for the winter.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-winged_hawk#/media/File:Broad-Winged_Hawk_Range.png
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, occasional or rare depending on the seasons.
CONSERVATION: Population would appear stable and increasing, not considered at risk.
NOTES: Forms large flocks when migrating.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/broad-winged-hawk
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://hawkwatch.org/learn/factsheets/item/364-broadwinged-hawk
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/broad-winged-hawk (Missouri Department of Conservation)
http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNKC19050 (Montana Field Guide)
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Buteo_platypterus/ (University of Michigan)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-winged_hawk
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/broad-winged-hawk
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/35/overview/Broad-winged_Hawk.aspx
DESCRIPTION: The Broad-winged Hawk adult has a reddish-brown head, and brown back and wings. Wing undersides are mostly white with brown edge. Tail is brown with a white bar and a slim white edge. Breast and belly are white with reddish-brown bars. Rump is white. Eyes are dark yellow. Hooked bill is grey, but yellow at the base. Legs and feet are yellow, talons black. Sexes are similar with females slightly larger. Bird length about 35 cm (14 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-platypterus
NAME: The English name ‘Hawk’ would stem from ‘to have’, to seize or grasp. Latin genus name ‘Buteo’ means ‘hawk’. Latin species name ‘platypterus’ means ‘broad wings’.
HABITAT: Prefers mature mixed forest.
DIET: Small reptiles and mammals, birds (hatchlings, juveniles), insects.
NESTING: Nest is built in a low part of tree. Two to five creamy eggs are laid, incubated by the female. Chicks fed by female for the most part.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in Canada (except PEI, the north and the Rockies) and eastern half of USA. Migrates to Florida, the Caribbean, Central America and northwest part of South America for the winter.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-winged_hawk#/media/File:Broad-Winged_Hawk_Range.png
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, occasional or rare depending on the seasons.
CONSERVATION: Population would appear stable and increasing, not considered at risk.
NOTES: Forms large flocks when migrating.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/broad-winged-hawk
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://hawkwatch.org/learn/factsheets/item/364-broadwinged-hawk
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/broad-winged-hawk (Missouri Department of Conservation)
http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNKC19050 (Montana Field Guide)
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Buteo_platypterus/ (University of Michigan)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-winged_hawk
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/broad-winged-hawk
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/35/overview/Broad-winged_Hawk.aspx
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| Broad-winged hawk, VT by JulieFromVT |
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| Broad-winged hawk in flight, CA, by Franceco Veronesi |