Broad-winged hawks are carnivores. Their diet changes seasonally, and consists of whichever insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds are available at any given time. During the nesting season, chipmunks, shrews and voles (genus Microtus and genus Myodes) are common in their diet, as well as frogs, lizards and nesting birds. In the winter, much of their diet consists of insects, lizards, frogs, snakes, crabs and small mammals. Mammals are eaten whole. Frogs and snakes are skinned and birds are plucked.
Broad-winged hawks hunt from a perch. Typically, they swoop down on prey to capture it on the ground.
Food caching has been observed in this species, though it is unknown how common this behavior is.
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; insects
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
Broad-winged hawk eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation from avian and climbing predators, including raccoons, porcupines, American crows, black bears and great horned owls. Predation of adult broad-winged hawks has not been well documented.
Known Predators:
Broad-winged hawks are small, stocky hawks. They are about 34 to 44 cm long and weigh 265 to 560 g. Their wingspan ranges from 81 to 100 cm. Adults have a dark brown back and a pale underside with horizontal cinnamon or chestnut barring. The tail is dark gray to black with a conspicuous broad white stripe across the middle and two less conspicuous white stripes at the base and tip. In flight, broad-winged hawks have pointed wing tips. When perched, the wing tips of broad-winged hawks don't reach the end of the tail.
Rare dark (melanistic) morphs of broad-winged hawks are occasionally seen in the northern part of the geographic range. These birds are entirely dark brown, with a tail similar to typical adults.
Juvenile broad-winged hawks are similar in appearance to adults, but have longitudinal, rather than horizontal barring on their chest and belly. Juveniles also tend to have more white on their chest and belly than adults. Males and females of any age look similar, though females tend to be larger than males (about 22% heavier).
Range mass: 265 to 560 g.
Range length: 34 to 44 cm.
Range wingspan: 81 to 100 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Based on a study conducted between 1955 and 1979, the average expected lifespan of wild broad-winged hawks is 12 years. The oldest known wild broad-winged hawk lived at least 14 years and 4 months.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 18.3 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 12 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 193 months.
Broad-winged hawks favor dense deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests for nesting. They prefer to have water and openings such as roads, trails, wetlands or meadows nearby. Broad-winged hawks use these openings in the canopy for foraging. They tend to avoid nesting near human dwellings.
Broad-winged hawks' winter habitat is deciduous and mixed forest habitats in Central and South America. They may live anywhere between sea level and several thousand meters elevation.
Range elevation: 2000 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
Broad-winged hawks are native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. They breed throughout the eastern United States and most of southern Canada. Their winter range includes southern Florida, the Pacific slope of southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
Broad-winged hawks affect the local populations of the animals they eat. They also provide food for their predators.
Broad-winged hawks feed on insect and rodent species that may be considered pests by some humans.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
There are no known adverse effects of broad-winged hawks on humans.
As far as we know, broad-winged hawks do not harm humans in any way.
The global population of broad-winged hawks is estimated to be about 1,800,000 individuals. On a global scale, populations are believed to be declining, though data is scarce. In North America, broad-winged hawks are considered quite common.
Broad-winged hawks are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act and CITES Appendix II. They are classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN. One subspecies of broad-winged hawk, the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens) is protected as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Primary causes of mortality in this species include predation, trapping, shooting, and vehicle collisions.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: appendix ii
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Broad-winged hawks use vocalizations and physical displays to communicate. There are four recognized calls that are used by broad-winged hawks. The most commonly heard is a 2- to 4- second high-pitched whistle that sounds like "kee-ee" or "peeoweee." Broad-winged hawks use calls to communicate in a variety of social situations, including territorial disputes and when communicating with a mate or offspring.
Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Broad-winged hawks are monogamous. Breeding pairs form soon after arrival on breeding grounds in the spring, around mid- to late-April. Courtship behaviors include flight displays and possibly courtship feeding, though this has not been well documented. Breeding pairs may mate together for more than one season.
Mating System: monogamous
Broad-winged hawks breed between April and August, raising one brood per summer. Nest building typically begins in late April through mid-May. The male and female both build the nest, a process that takes 2 to 4 weeks. The nest is built in the main crotch of deciduous trees or on a platform of branches next to the trunk of a conifer. It is constructed of dead sticks and fresh sprigs, and lined with bark chips. Some pairs may renovate and reuse nests of other species.
The female lays 1 to 4 (usually 2 to 3) eggs at 1 to 2 day intervals. The eggs can be white, pale cream, or a little bluish. Incubation is carried out by the female and lasts 28 to 31 days. During this time, the male brings food to the female at the nest. The chicks are semi-altricial at hatching; they are covered in gray down and have open eyes. The chicks are brooded by the female for the first week or so after hatching. During the early nestling period, the male brings food to the nest, and the female tears the food into pieces and feeds it to the chicks. After 1 to 2 weeks, the female begins leaving the nest to hunt. The chicks leave the nest 5 to 6 weeks after hatching, but remain in their parents territory for another 4 to 8 weeks. They begin to capture their own prey at about 7 weeks old.
Most broad-winged hawks do not breed until they are at least two years old, though yearlings occasionally breed with an older mate.
Brood reduction (siblicide among nestlings) does occur in broad-winged hawks. However, it appears to be uncommon. In one study in New York, brood reduction occurred in 3 of 11 nests. This aspect of broad-winged hawk breeding ecology has not been well studied.
Breeding interval: Broad-winged hawks breed once yearly. They raise one brood per breeding season.
Breeding season: Broad-winged hawks breed between April and August.
Range eggs per season: 1 to 4.
Range time to hatching: 28 to 31 days.
Range fledging age: 5 to 6 weeks.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 (low) years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 (low) years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
Average eggs per season: 2.
Both parents participate in nest building and feeding of the young. The female parent incubates the eggs and broods the nestlings. Meanwhile, the male provides food to the female and the nestlings. Both parents remove fecal sacs from the nest in order to keep it sanitary.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female)
Somewhat smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk, the Broad-winged Hawk (15 inches) may be identified by its solid brown back, rust-colored legs and belly, and barred white-and-black tail. A rarer dark morph also exists which is mostly dark brown overall except on the tail, which is similar to that of the light morph. Like most species of raptors, females are larger than males. The Broad-winged Hawk breeds across the eastern United States and southern Canada, absent as a breeding bird only from southern Florida and the western Gulf Coast. This species migrates south for the winter, when it may be found in Florida south of Miami and from southern Mexico south to South America. Non-migratory populations exist in the West Indies. Broad-winged Hawks breed in mature forests with deciduous or mixed deciduous and evergreen trees. During the winter, this species inhabits humid tropical forests. Broad-winged Hawks primarily eat small vertebrates, such as amphibians, small mammals, and small birds, but they may also eat large insects when available. Broad-winged Hawks are most easily observed on migration, particularly in south Texas, where they sometimes form flocks numbering in the thousands. It is also possible to observe Broad-winged Hawks dropping down from perches to capture prey or, with the aid of binoculars, roosting in trees. This species is most active during the day.
Somewhat smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk, the Broad-winged Hawk (15 inches) may be identified by its solid brown back, rust-colored legs and belly, and barred white-and-black tail. A rarer dark morph also exists which is mostly dark brown overall except on the tail, which is similar to that of the light morph. Like most species of raptors, females are larger than males. The Broad-winged Hawk breeds across the eastern United States and southern Canada, absent as a breeding bird only from southern Florida and the western Gulf Coast. This species migrates south for the winter, when it may be found in Florida south of Miami and from southern Mexico south to South America. Non-migratory populations exist in the West Indies. Broad-winged Hawks breed in mature forests with deciduous or mixed deciduous and evergreen trees. During the winter, this species inhabits humid tropical forests. Broad-winged Hawks primarily eat small vertebrates, such as amphibians, small mammals, and small birds, but they may also eat large insects when available. Broad-winged Hawks are most easily observed on migration, particularly in south Texas, where they sometimes form flocks numbering in the thousands. It is also possible to observe Broad-winged Hawks dropping down from perches to capture prey or, with the aid of binoculars, roosting in trees. This species is most active during the day.
The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil.[2] Other subspecies are all-year residents on Caribbean islands.[3] As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks' wings are relatively short and broad with a tapered, somewhat pointed appearance. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad-winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.
The broad-winged hawk is a relatively small Buteo, with a body size from 32 to 44 cm (13 to 17 in) in length and weighing 265 to 560 g (9.3 to 19.8 oz). The tail is relatively short, measuring 14.5–19.0 cm (5.7–7.5 in) in length. The tarsus measures from 5.6 to 6.6 cm (2.2 to 2.6 in).[4][5] As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males.[6] Broad-winged hawks have relatively short and broad wings, pointed at the end, which have a tapered appearance unique to the species. The wingspan can range from 74 to 100 cm (29 to 39 in), with the extended wing bone (standard measurement) measuring 22.7–30 cm (8.9–11.8 in).[5]
An adult's body is a dark brown with a white belly and chest containing horizontal barring. Its tail can be a dark grey-black with white lines along the middle, base, and tip.[5] The young hawks have a slightly different coloring with more white and longitudinal barring instead of horizontal barring. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall.[2] The light morph of this bird is most likely to be confused with the red-shouldered hawk, but it has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult, which are usually distinctive.[2] Rare dark morphs are a darker brown on both upperparts and underparts. Dark-morph short-tailed hawks are similar, but are whitish under the tail with a single subterminal band.[5]
This species, Buteo platypterus, is in the family Accipitridae, which is placed in the order Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes). Currently, the species is split into six subspecies;[7] each is named for its distribution,[8]
Broad-winged hawks have a wide range in North America and South America, from southern Canada to southern Brazil. Their breeding range is in the northern and eastern parts of North America, and some migrate in the winter to Florida, southern Mexico, and northern South America.[10][11] Five subspecies are endemic to the Caribbean and do not migrate. Those subspecies that do migrate fly in flocks of more than 40 up to several thousand at heights from 550 to 1,300 m (1,800 to 4,270 ft). They soar using thermals to carry them through their journey of 3,000–6,000 km (1,900–3,700 mi).[12] Fall migration lasts for 70 days as birds migrate about 100 km (62 mi) per day from North America, through Central America to South America without crossing salt water.[13] The enormous flocks of soaring broad-winged hawks are termed kettles and are characteristic of many hawk migration spectacles in North America, such as at Hawk Cliff in Ontario, Hawk Ridge in Minnesota, Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, and the River of Raptors in Veracruz.
Broad-winged hawks stay in areas up to an elevation around 2,000 m (6,600 ft). They breed in deciduous forests good for nesting and forage primarily in wetlands and meadows. While some birds have acclimatized themselves to living near humans, even those birds avoid human settlements and interactions. In the winter, the migrating subspecies of the hawks seek out similar conditions to their overwintering home, so they settle in deciduous and mixed forests.[14]
Although it is declining in some areas because of forest fragmentation, its numbers are relatively stable and is assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
These hawks use vocalizations for communication with their mates and offspring, and in territorial displays towards intruders such as red-tailed hawks or other threatening animals. Their call sounds like a very high-pitched kee-ee, almost like a whistle. When confronted with a threat, broad-winged hawks emit an alarm call consisting of stuttered and squealing whistles.
Broad-winged hawks are carnivores. The types of food they eat depends on the time of year and consists of whichever insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals (ranging from mice to small rabbits), and birds (up to the size of grouse and New World quails) are available at any given time.[15][16] During the summer or nesting season the parents and ultimately their chicks eat small animals such as chipmunks, shrews, and voles, frogs, lizards, and sometimes even other nesting birds like cardinals, as well as sick or injured birds.[17][18] In the winter, they have been observed feeding on insects (such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, and saturniid moth caterpillars), frogs, lizards, snakes, crabs, earthworms, and small mammals.[19][20][21] To catch their prey, broad-winged hawks watch from low branches, hiding in the foliage, until a target is spotted. From their roost they do a short, fast glide to capture the prey. They give special attention to preparing their food for consumption, skinning frogs and snakes and plucking prey birds' feathers. Most small mammals, though, are eaten whole. They rarely drink water and are able to survive solely with the water present in their prey.
These birds have only one mate during the breeding season, possibly because the male also helps a small amount with the rearing of the chicks.[22] They breed between April and August, starting when they reach sexual maturity at about two years old.[22]
To attract and court females, the males perform a courtship display flight including cartwheels, dives, and other aerial acrobatics. Birds meet in the air, hook their feet together and spiral down together.[23] They also compete and fight with other males for the chance to mate with a female. If one of the males is successful, the mating pair has only one brood that season, consisting of one to four eggs.[22]
Both the male and female build the nest out of sticks and twigs in a deciduous tree. Once laid, the brown-spotted eggs are typically 49 mm × 39 mm (1.9 in × 1.5 in) and weigh about 42 g (1.5 oz). The female then develops a brood patch and incubates the eggs for 28 days or longer before they hatch.
The hatchlings will appear semialtricial, incapable of any complex coordination, but have open eyes and are covered in down feathers.[24] Chicks have rapid body growth until they are almost at adult body size, when they are capable of walking, flying, and eating without parental help.[24] While in the nest, the female gives most of the parental care, protecting and providing food for the chicks. The male may provide some food for the female and offspring, but his visits are short lived.
Once a prey item is obtained for the nest, the female tears off pieces and feeds the chicks until they are able to rip meat off on their own. Often, the chicks fight for possession of the offered morsel, the younger ones usually losing and not getting enough.[25]
Broad-winged hawks protect their nests in a show of aggression (i.e. diving and chasing) towards any suspected threat, but they generally do not make physical contact.[26] Predators of eggs and nestlings include raccoons, crows, porcupines, and American black bears. Adults have been known to fall to red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, bald eagles, and golden eagles.[7] The hatchlings need 5–6 weeks before they are able to leave the nest. Some young, even after that time, remain in the area of the nest for several weeks more.[14]
The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil. Other subspecies are all-year residents on Caribbean islands. As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks' wings are relatively short and broad with a tapered, somewhat pointed appearance. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad-winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.
