![]() Not only are Short-Tailed Hawks quite small, they also hunt from very high up in the sky. One thing that both types have in common, however, is their namesake short tail. Dark morph Short-Tailed Hawks are a very dark brown color all over, only their underparts and flight feathers are a lighter brown. Light morph Short-Tailed Hawks have white underparts and light brown upperparts. They also have two different color variations light morph and dark morph. They are also quite hard to identify for a few reasons.įirst of all, they are quite small, measuring in at around 15 inches in length. Of course, others may have been since, but no other sightings have been officially recorded.Īs you can imagine from the above, the Short-Tailed Hawk is a very secretive bird of prey. The Short-Tailed Hawk is one of the rarer species on our list.Ĭonsidered an “accidental” species in Michigan, the last recorded sighting of a Short-Tailed Hawk was back in 2005 in the Whitefish Point Unit National Wildlife Refuge. The mating couple will raise their brood together until they are fully fledged. ![]() In this nest, the female Red-Shouldered Hawk will lay 2-5 pale blue eggs. They also nest in these areas during breeding season, and rather than constructing a new nest each year, they’ll reuse an older nest in a broad-leaved tree. Their prey includes small mammals, snakes, and frogs which they have no issue snatching up with their razor-sharp claws! Here, they hunt for their prey along the edges of the water. Their preferred habitat is forests near a source of water, such as a lake, river, or stream. They are medium-sized hawks, measuring around 22 inches in length and with an average wingspan of 41 inches. ![]() Named for its distinct red color on either shoulder, the Red-Shouldered Hawk can also be identified by its checkered wings and red barring across the breast. They are most abundant in the South of the State during spring and summer and head a little further North for the winter. Red-Shouldered HawkĪnother non-migratory bird of prey, the Red-Shouldered Hawk, can be seen in Michigan all year round. Once spotted, they’ll plummet to the ground and use their fierce claws to snatch them up before carrying them away. Here, they scour the land looking for their prey, which includes reptiles, small mammals, and small songbirds. If you cannot get into the woodlands to see a Red-Tailed Hawk, then don’t worry – most are spotted circling high above open fields and farmland. Once the nest is constructed, the female Red-Tailed Hawk lays 2-3 brown-spotted eggs, and the couple raises their young together before helping them fledge and going their separate ways. They have, however, also been known to nest and roost in urban areas, using tall buildings and towers to raise their brood. The Red-Tailed Hawk’s preferred habitat is mixed woodland, where it rests high up in the trees. The Red-Tailed Hawk measures around 20 inches and has a wingspan of 50 inches. ![]() They can also be identified by their brown upperparts, pale yellow underparts, and large, rounded wings. However, they are more abundant during spring and summer.Īs you may have guessed from their name, the Red-Tailed Hawk has a rust-red tail. They’re also non-migratory, so they can be seen all year round. This species is the most commonly spotted in the State. If you’ve seen a Hawk flying high or sat atop a telephone pole in Michigan recently, there’s a very good chance that you’ve just spotted a Red-Tailed Hawk. We’ll also look at identifying each species, so you can be sure of what you’ve seen and tick another species off your bird-watching list! Red-Tailed Hawk ![]() We’ll look at their natural habitats, their feeding habits, and the best time of year to see them, helping you increase your chances of a sighting. Here, we’ll look at the different species of Hawks you can spot in Michigan. There are 11 species of Hawks in Michigan, from the common Red-Tailed Hawk to the elusive Ferruginous Hawk. ![]()
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