![]() They share the buteo shape along with the Red-tailed hawk, but with longer, more narrow wings. They often fly up and face the wind while hunting, hovering and scanning the ground for prey. During the summer these hawks reside in the arctic tundra, hunting and raising their young before migrating south to escape the cold. You’ll only be able to catch the non-breeding population of Rough-legged hawks in Massachusetts during the winter. Rough-legged Hawk photo by: DickDaniels | CC 3.0 This article has even more interesting facts about Red-tailed hawks.ħ. Listen for their iconic raptor screech - you’ll surely recognize it as the same call used for hawks, and other birds of prey, in most movies and television shows. When in flight you can observe their broad, rounded wings and short tail, a signature buteo hawk silhouette. They feature white, creamy undersides with light, reddish brown markings as well as their namesake tail full of red feathers. Chances are you can even spot them on roadside telephone poles during your daily drive. Catch them year-round in Massachusetts, often perched on tall vantage points or circling overhead. You’ve probably seen several Red-tailed Hawks before, as they’re one of the most common hawks in North America. You may be able to find one by listening for it’s piercing, single-pitched whistle it makes when hunting. They have similar barring as the red-shouldered hawk, but with brown coloration rather than red. ![]() These hawks are on the smaller side with stocky bodies and large, reddish heads. However, if you’re lucky you’ll catch their fall migration, when large flocks of thousands travel to South America. They often fight and try to steal food from one another, though sometimes they do pair-up to eliminate a common enemy.īroad-winged hawks can only be found during breeding season in Massachusetts, from around April to August. Red-shouldered hawks and crows don’t exactly get along. The translucent crescents near their wingtips are a great way to identify them. In the spring they’re often spotted circling over their nesting area. These year-round hawks of Massachusetts live in wet forests - often along streams and creeks. Like their name implies, Red-shouldered hawks feature light, reddish barring on their pale undersides as well as white banding on their tails. ![]() The best chance of seeing them is to head for the woods.īe careful not to get too close to their nests though, since these defensive hawks are known for attacking people that get too close. Though they’re found here year-round, they’re more secretive than these other hawks, making them harder to find. Their coloration is mostly gray with white stripes above their red-orange eyes. Northern goshawks are closely related to sharp-shinned and cooper’s hawks - except larger and more aggressive. Though they used to avoid populated areas, these hawks are becoming more and more common in towns, suburbs, and other urban areas - preying on the many pigeons and doves that live there. They’re found year-round in Massachusetts, most often on the edge of forests, but sometimes in backyards, too. However, Cooper’s hawks are larger with slightly broader wings. Both birds even share the same flap-flap-glide flying style. The hawks will search for food elsewhere and the songbirds will eventually return.Ĭooper’s hawks are very similar in appearance to sharp-shinned hawks, making it difficult to differentiate between the two. ![]() If you notice them perched in your yard, remove your bird feeder and replace it after a few weeks. Watch out if you keep bird feeders in the yard, these guys are well-known for snatching up unsuspecting songbirds. They’re found year-round in the eastern half of the state, but the best time to catch a glimpse of them is during the fall when they migrate. Their long legs, short, round wings, and lengthy tails allow them to fly through dense forests at rapid speeds. Sharp-shinned hawks may be small, but they sure are fast. There are 20 different kinds of raptors found in Massachusetts including hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles - check them out below. With the Atlantic Ocean bordering it’s eastern coast - and plenty of inland forests, swamps, and grasslands - it’s no surprise that a wide array of hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles call this state their home. Massachusetts is the most populous state in all of New England, and it has a large population of birds of prey to match. In this article we’ll talk about the birds of prey in Massachusetts, as well as the best times of the year and locations to find them.
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