473 Records

These compact Buteos are smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk and about the size of a Red-shouldered Hawk. They have a distinctive shape in flight with a short tail, bulging secondaries (inner part of the wings), and tail bands (bold on adults, more diffuse on younger birds). Adults' wings often appear edged in dark, and with a close look you can see a line down the middle of the throat. Especially in spring and during the breeding season you can sometimes detect them by their high-pitched piercing calls, which sound like teeee-TEEEEEEEE! For ruling out more common Buteo species, note the lack of the patagial bars (black leading edge of wings on either side of the head) found on all ages of Red-tailed Hawk and the lack of the "windows" (translucent patches in primaries) seen in Red-shouldered Hawk.