Buteo platypterus
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a small to medium-sized raptor, distinctive for its compact build and spectacular migratory habits. Adults average 13-17 inches (34-44 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 32-39 inches (81-100 cm) and weigh between 9-20 ounces (250-560 g). Their plumage features a dark brown back, pale underparts with rufous barring across the breast and belly, and a short tail adorned with broad, contrasting white and dark bands. Juveniles exhibit streaky underparts ...
Primarily inhabits deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, often favoring areas near clearings, wetlands, or streams, from low to mid-elevations.
Mainly consumes small amphibians (frogs, toads), reptiles (snakes, lizards), and large insects; also takes small mammals (rodents) and occasionally small birds, foraging primarily by perch-hunting.
Broad-winged Hawks are diurnal raptors, typically roosting solitarily in dense forest trees during the breeding season, though communal roosts can form during migration. Their primary foraging strategy is the 'perch-and-pounce' method: they sit inconspicuously on a hidden perch, scanning for prey...
The breeding range of the Broad-winged Hawk spans eastern and central North America, extending from southern Canada (including Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes) southward through the eastern United States to the Gulf Coast states, and west into portions of the Great Plains (e.g., east...
Least Concern
- Broad-winged Hawks are famous for their awe-inspiring "kettles" during migration, where thousands of birds spiral upwards together on thermals, sometimes reaching tens of thousands of individuals. - They are one of the smallest *Buteo* hawks in North America, often appearing stockier than their...