Types of Hawks in Pennsylvania: A Complete Guide
Pennsylvania 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. The state is famous for its spectacular fall hawk migration, and these birds of prey can be seen soaring over ridges, fields, and forests. This guide covers how many hawks live in Pennsylvania, the common species, how to tell them apart, where to see them, and the state’s renowned hawk watching.
| Hawk | Key Features in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania’s ridges, forests, and farmland support this variety, and understanding it begins with these species, part of the wider group covered in our guide to types of hawks.
Common Hawks in Pennsylvania
Several hawks are especially common in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania in summer and migrates south in large swirling flocks called kettles, forming the heart of the state’s famous fall migration. 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 Pennsylvania Hawks Apart
Telling Pennsylvania’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 Pennsylvania’s hawks, as explored in our guide to types of owls in Pennsylvania.
Where to See Hawks in Pennsylvania
Hawks can be seen throughout Pennsylvania in a variety of habitats, from open farmland to forested ridges 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 reclaimed strip mines, and the rough-legged hawk favors open country in winter. Pennsylvania’s forested ridges are especially important during migration, when hawks follow these landforms south, and the state’s many hawk-watching sites offer outstanding viewing. Parks, state game lands, and nature preserves throughout Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania Hawk Watching
Pennsylvania is world-renowned for hawk watching, and understanding this makes the state special for raptor enthusiasts. The state’s long forested ridges, part of the Appalachian Mountains, act as highways for migrating hawks in fall, since the birds use updrafts along these ridges to soar southward efficiently, concentrating them in impressive numbers. This makes Pennsylvania home to some of the most famous hawk-watching lookouts in the world, most notably Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where visitors gather each autumn to watch thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons stream past. The peak of the broad-winged hawk migration in September can produce spectacular kettles of hundreds or thousands of birds circling on thermals, while later in the season other species like red-tailed hawks and golden eagles pass through. Fall, roughly from September into November, is the prime season, with clear days after cold fronts often being best. Experiencing the migration at a Pennsylvania hawk watch is unforgettable, showcasing the grandeur of these birds, as reflected in our guide to bird symbolism.
The Red-tailed Hawk, Pennsylvania’s Most Familiar Raptor
The red-tailed hawk deserves special attention as the hawk most Pennsylvanians 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 Pennsylvania, 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 fall migration, red-tailed hawks are among the many raptors that pass along Pennsylvania’s ridges, though they migrate later than the broad-winged hawks. The red-tailed hawk’s abundance and conspicuous perching make it the classic Pennsylvania hawk, as explored in our guide to types of hawks.
Appreciating Pennsylvania’s Hawks
Pennsylvania’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 ridgetop hawk watch in autumn. Pennsylvania’s famous fall migration offers a chance to see these birds in spectacular numbers, 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 Pennsylvania, connecting observers to the wider world of raptors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common hawk in Pennsylvania?
The red-tailed hawk is the most common and widespread hawk in Pennsylvania, a large bird often seen perched along highways or soaring over open fields and farmland.
What hawk hunts birds at feeders in Pennsylvania?
Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks hunt songbirds at backyard feeders in Pennsylvania. These bird-hunting hawks are drawn to the concentration of prey that feeders provide.
How many types of hawks are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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.
Where is the best hawk watching in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is famous for hawk watching, especially at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where thousands of migrating hawks pass along the ridges each fall, particularly in September.
When is the best time to see hawks in Pennsylvania?
Fall migration from September into November is spectacular, especially for broad-winged hawks in September. Year-round hawks are also easy to see in winter when trees are bare.
How do you tell Pennsylvania 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.
Where can you see hawks in Pennsylvania?
Hawks are seen along highways, over farmland, in forests and along ridges, around backyard feeders, and at hawk-watching sites, especially during fall migration.
