Types of Hawks in Michigan: A Complete Guide
Michigan is home to several types of hawks, most commonly the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and broad-winged hawk. These birds of prey can be seen soaring over fields, perched along highways, or hunting in backyards across the state, and Michigan is a great place to watch hawk migration. This guide covers how many hawks live in Michigan, the common species, how to tell them apart, where to see them, and when they are most active.
| Hawk | Key Features in Michigan |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | Most common, red tail, soars |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Woodlands, reddish barring |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Backyards, hunts birds |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Small, hunts songbirds |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Summer, migrates in kettles |
| Northern Harrier | Marshes, low flight, white rump |
| Rough-legged Hawk | Winter visitor, hovers |
How Many Types of Hawks Live in Michigan?
Michigan hosts several species of hawks throughout the year, some as year-round residents and others as seasonal migrants or winter visitors. The most common and widespread is the red-tailed hawk, frequently seen perched along highways and soaring over open country. Other regularly occurring hawks include the red-shouldered hawk of the woodlands, the two bird-hunting accipiters, Cooper’s hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk, and the broad-winged hawk that breeds in summer and migrates in spectacular flocks. The northern harrier courses low over marshes and fields, and the rough-legged hawk visits from the far north in winter, while the powerful northern goshawk is a scarce resident of northern forests. Hawks are birds of prey with keen eyesight, hooked bills, and strong talons, and they play an important role in controlling rodents and other small animals. Michigan’s forests, farmland, wetlands, and Great Lakes shorelines support this variety. Understanding the hawks of Michigan begins with these species, part of the wider group covered in our guide to types of hawks.
Common Hawks in Michigan
Several hawks are especially common in Michigan and worth knowing. The red-tailed hawk is the most familiar, a large, broad-winged hawk with, in adults, a brick-red tail, often seen perched on poles and trees along roadsides or soaring in wide circles. The red-shouldered hawk is a woodland hawk with reddish barred underparts and boldly banded wings and tail, often heard giving its loud calls. The Cooper’s hawk is a medium-sized, bird-hunting hawk that frequently visits backyards and bird feeders in pursuit of songbirds, while the very similar but smaller sharp-shinned hawk also hunts small birds. The broad-winged hawk is a small, stocky forest hawk that breeds in Michigan in summer and migrates south in large swirling flocks called kettles. The northern harrier flies low over marshes and fields with its wings raised, showing a white rump patch. Each of these hawks has its own look and habits, as explored in our guide to types of hawks in Ohio.
How to Tell Michigan Hawks Apart
Telling Michigan’s hawks apart is easier when you use size, shape, and behavior. Start with size and shape, since the buteos like the red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks are large and broad-winged, built for soaring, while the accipiters like Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks are slimmer with shorter, rounded wings and long tails, built for chasing birds through cover. Look for key field marks, such as the red-tailed hawk’s red tail, the red-shouldered hawk’s reddish barring and banded tail, and the harrier’s white rump and low, tilting flight. Behavior and habitat help, since the red-tailed hawk soars over open country and perches conspicuously, the accipiters dash after birds and visit feeders, the broad-winged hawk stays in summer woodlands, and the harrier hunts low over marshes. Season matters too, since the rough-legged hawk appears only in winter. By combining size, shape, field marks, behavior, and season, you can identify Michigan’s hawks, as explored in our guide to types of woodpeckers in Michigan.
Where to See Hawks in Michigan
Hawks can be seen throughout Michigan in a variety of habitats, from open farmland to forests and wetlands. The red-tailed hawk is often spotted perched on utility poles, fence posts, and trees along highways and over agricultural fields, making it one of the easiest hawks to observe. The red-shouldered and broad-winged hawks favor wooded areas, river corridors, and forests, while Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks are frequently seen in wooded neighborhoods, parks, and around backyard feeders. The northern harrier hunts over marshes, wet meadows, and open fields, and the rough-legged hawk favors open country in winter. Michigan’s location along the Great Lakes makes it excellent for hawk migration, since hawks concentrate along shorelines to avoid crossing large expanses of water, and famous sites like the Detroit River area and shoreline hawk watches can produce impressive numbers of migrating raptors. Parks, wildlife areas, and nature preserves throughout Michigan provide excellent hawk habitat. Because hawks are widespread and often perch in the open, they are among the most visible birds of prey in the state, as detailed in our guide to types of falcons.
When Hawks Are Most Active in Michigan
The best times to see hawks in Michigan depend on the species and the season. Year-round residents like the red-tailed hawk and Cooper’s hawk can be seen in every season, though they are often especially conspicuous in late fall and winter when leaves are off the trees and the birds perch in the open. Fall migration, roughly from September into November, is a spectacular time for hawk watching, when many hawks stream south, concentrating along the Great Lakes shorelines to avoid crossing open water, sometimes forming large kettles of circling birds, with broad-winged hawks peaking in September. Winter brings visitors from the north, such as the rough-legged hawk and increased numbers of some other species. Spring migration also moves hawks northward through the state, again concentrated along shorelines. During the day, hawks are most active when rising warm air, called thermals, helps them soar, so mid-morning through afternoon on clear days is often productive. By timing your outings to the seasons and the daily thermals, you can enjoy Michigan’s hawks, as reflected in our guide to bird symbolism.
The Red-tailed Hawk, Michigan’s Most Familiar Raptor
The red-tailed hawk deserves special attention as the hawk most Michiganders encounter. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the red-tailed hawk is one of the most common and widespread hawks in North America, often seen perched along roadsides or soaring over open country. In Michigan, this large buteo is a familiar sight throughout the year, frequently spotted atop utility poles, fence posts, and tall trees along highways, where it watches for the rodents and other small animals that make up much of its diet. Its broad, rounded wings are ideal for soaring in wide circles on rising warm air, and adults show the distinctive brick-red tail that gives the species its name, though young birds have a brown, banded tail. During migration, red-tailed hawks join the many raptors that concentrate along Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines. The red-tailed hawk’s abundance and conspicuous perching make it the classic Michigan hawk, as explored in our guide to types of woodpeckers in Michigan.
Appreciating Michigan’s Hawks
Michigan’s hawks are a rewarding group to appreciate, both for their beauty and for their role in nature. As predators, hawks help keep populations of rodents and other small animals in balance, playing an important part in healthy ecosystems across the state’s forests, farmland, and wetlands. Learning to recognize the common hawks, from the soaring red-tailed hawk to the bird-hunting Cooper’s hawk, adds a rewarding dimension to time spent outdoors, whether watching from a car along a country road or standing at a Great Lakes shoreline hawk watch in autumn. Michigan’s location along the lakes makes it excellent for seeing migrating hawks concentrated along the coasts, while winter and the bare trees make resident hawks easier to spot. Taking the time to observe hawks, note their shapes and behaviors, and enjoy their mastery of the air deepens the pleasure of birding in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common hawk in Michigan?
The red-tailed hawk is the most common and widespread hawk in Michigan, a large bird often seen perched along highways or soaring over open fields and farmland.
What hawk hunts birds at feeders in Michigan?
Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks hunt songbirds at backyard feeders in Michigan. These bird-hunting hawks are drawn to the concentration of prey that feeders provide.
How many types of hawks are in Michigan?
Michigan hosts several hawk species, including the red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper’s, sharp-shinned, and broad-winged hawks, the northern harrier, and the rough-legged hawk.
How do you tell Michigan hawks apart?
Use size, shape, and behavior. Buteos like the red-tailed hawk are broad-winged and soar, while accipiters like Cooper’s hawk are slim with long tails and hunt birds.
When is the best time to see hawks in Michigan?
Fall migration from September into November is spectacular, especially along the Great Lakes shorelines. Year-round hawks are also easy to see in winter when trees are bare.
Where is the best hawk watching in Michigan?
Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines are excellent for hawk migration, since hawks concentrate along the coasts to avoid crossing open water, especially in fall and spring.
Where can you see hawks in Michigan?
Hawks are seen along highways, over farmland, in forests, around backyard feeders, and over marshes, as well as at shoreline hawk-watching sites during migration.
