However, there’s likely to be discrepancies between large female sharpies and small male Cooper’s, since female hawks are larger than males.Ĭooper’s hawks are some of the most able and skilled fliers in the bird world. Very similar to the Sharpies in looks, but Cooper’s are larger overall. The rest of the state is home to wintering migrants. Sharpies are found year-round in western North Carolina. If the catch is for their mate or nestlings, they will often remove and eat the head first before giving the rest away. Because of this, they are known as “pursuit hunters.”Īfter performing their acrobatics through the trees and catching a meal with their catlike talons, sharpies will take its prey back to a perch and de-feather it. Unlike some larger hawks that swoop down on their prey from high above, these agile hawks are small and quick enough to dart through woods to sneak up on their prey or burst from a tree limb to chase them. They have copper barring on their white underparts and blue grey feathering on their backs, nape, and crown, giving it a hooded look. Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest accipiters and are fondly referred to as “sharpies.” Unlike the accipiters, buteos prefer non-bird prey. They fly very fast through trees and use long legs to snatch their prey-usually birds.īuteos, genus Buteo, include the other 4 species on this list (Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Red-tailed Hawk.) These birds soar high in the air and swoop down on prey from perches. Out of the 6 species of hawks in North Carolina, 2 of those belong to the genus Accipiter (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk) and are ambush hunters. Let’s take a look at some pictures and learn a little bit about each species to help you identify them. In this article we’ll talk specifically about hawks in North Carolina and what species can be found in the state. Their hooked bills, large talons, fierce demeanors, and conspicuous presence while perched on a telephone pole or dead tree limb are easy to recognize. Flight pattern of flapping and gliding is often seen when this bird hunts on the wing. Most often they are seen in soaring flight, with the wings held in a slight dihedral or broad U-shape.Most people are able to point out a hawk if they see one. This is the most common and widespread hawk in North America – and also has the most variable pattern of plumage of all hawk species on the continent. Another identifying point common to all subgroups is a dark mark on the leading edge of the underwing, visible in flight. Most adults have a belly band of dark streaks on white underparts. The reddish tail of the adult is distinctive to this species, but juvenile birds (and some color morphs) lack this feature. Sexes are similar in appearance, with much size overlap, but females are generally larger. Plumage is extremely variable in pattern and amount of dark at least 4 light morph (variety) and 3 dark morph subgroups have been identified, with color phases ranging from pale, to “normal,” to reddish, to dark. All of these interbreed, so individual variation in this one species of hawk is enormous. A large, stocky hawk with broad and fairly rounded wings, and a wingspan of about 4 ft.
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