Hawks are predatory birds that belong to the family Accipitridae and are found throughout North America, including the state of Pennsylvania. There are several species of hawks that live in PA and each makes a distinct call. The most common hawks found in Pennsylvania include the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, and Cooper’s hawk. These hawks occupy various habitats from rural farmlands to urban parks and wooded areas. Their calls are most frequently heard during breeding season from March through July as they seek mates and defend territories. Understanding what hawks sound like can help birders identify them in the field.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is one of the most widespread and common hawks in North America. In Pennsylvania, these hawks are year-round residents and their numbers increase during migration as northern birds join the resident population. Red-tailed hawks are large, stocky raptors characterized by broad, rounded wings and a reddish-brown tail.
The red-tailed hawk’s most distinctive call is a loud, piercing “keeeeee-arrr.” This far-carrying call is often described as a scream. It is frequently heard from soaring birds during the breeding season. The red-tail also makes a quicker “kik-kik-kik” call during interactions with other hawks. Listen for the screaming “keeeeee-arrr” overhead near open fields, along tree lines, and around rural farms to identify the red-tailed hawk.
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Smaller and slimmer than the red-tail, the red-shouldered hawk inhabits moist woodlands and swamps in Pennsylvania. Look and listen for this hawk perched in trees near streams and wetlands. The red-shouldered hawk announces its presence with a piercing, whistled “kee-yar” call that drops in pitch at the end. Several calls are usually given in succession. This call carries through dense forests.
The red-shoulder also makes a faster “ker-ker-ker” call similar to the red-tail’s “kik” call during aggressive interactions with other hawks. Both the whistled “kee-yar” and “ker-ker-ker” are good identifiers of the red-shouldered hawk on its wooded breeding grounds.
Broad-Winged Hawk
As a small forest-dwelling hawk with a loud, piercing call, the broad-winged hawk resembles the red-shouldered hawk. However, its range is more limited in Pennsylvania where it is found only in large forest tracts during summer. From September through October, thousands of broad-wings can be seen kettling overhead during migration.
From within dense wooded areas, listen for the broad-wing’s rising, whistled “pee-ah” call. Given in a series during breeding season, this call has a higher pitch than the red-shoulder’s voice. Broad-wings also make a “kick-kick-kick” call during aggressive interactions. Their accipiter-like whining and whistling vocals help distinguish broad-wings from other forest hawks.
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s hawks occupy forested and semi-open habitats. As woodland nesters, their presence may go undetected until one approaches closely and is startled into flight. Cooper’s hawks are vocal during courtship and tend to avoid drawing attention to themselves after eggs are laid.
Listen for a loud “kak-kak-kak” call, similar to a small dog’s bark, given around nest sites in spring. Females make a faster “kek-kek-kek” call when delivering food to their mates or new nestlings. Cooper’s hawks also emit a high, whistled “psweep” during hunting. Their discreet, barking calls help confirm the identification when this secretive accipiter is spotted.
When and Where to Detect Hawk Calls in PA
The breeding season from March to July is the best time to hear hawks calling in Pennsylvania. As birds seek mates and defend nesting territories, vocalizations increase. Forest hawks like the red-shouldered and broad-winged are most vocal in April and May during peak breeding activity. Open country red-tails call frequently through July as they care for fledglings.
Productive places to listen for calling hawks include:
– Near open fields, meadows, and marshes – Listen for red-tails
– Along forest edges and streams – Listen for red-shoulders
– Within large woods and swamps – Listen for broad-wings
– At forest openings and semi-open areas – Listen for Cooper’s
Hawks are most vocal in early morning and again in late afternoon and evening. Patiently listening and watching hawk perches at these times maximizes your chances of hearing their diagnostic calls.
Distinguishing Hawk Calls
Several characteristics help distinguish between the calls of Pennsylvania’s common hawks:
Species | Call Type | Pitch | Habitat |
---|---|---|---|
Red-tailed Hawk | Loud screaming “keeeeeearr” | Low | Fields, rural areas |
Red-shouldered Hawk | Whistled “kee-yar” | Medium | Woodlands, swamps |
Broad-winged Hawk | Whistled “pee-ah” | High | Large woods |
Cooper’s Hawk | Barking “kak-kak-kak” | Medium | Forest openings |
Red-tailed hawks have the lowest-pitched scream while broad-wings utter higher, whistled notes. Red-shouldered and Cooper’s hawks give medium-pitched vocalizations. Habitat can also be a clue with forest hawks heard from woodlands and red-tails calling in open areas. Focusing on these differences will help distinguish between hawk species by sound alone.
Conclusion
Knowing the unique calls of Pennsylvania’s common hawk species aids in identifying them by ear. Red-tailed, red-shouldered, broad-winged, and Cooper’s hawks all have distinctive vocalizations that can pinpoint their presence even when hidden by forest cover. Listening for the red-tail’s piercing scream over fields, the red-shoulder’s falling whistle in wetlands, the broad-wing’s rising whistles in deep woods, and the Cooper’s barking notes near forest openings will help any birder recognize these magnificent predators of the sky.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most common and widespread hawks in North America. Here are some key facts about the red-tailed hawk:
– Found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats including forests, deserts, fields, farms, cities and suburbs.
– Named for its reddish-brown tail which can be seen clearly when the hawk soars overhead. Overall coloration is variable regionally going from light to dark morphs.
– Large and bulky compared to other hawk species with relatively broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail.
– Soars with wings held in a slight dihedral. Often hovers into the wind while hunting.
– Calls include the signature screaming “keeeeer” that carries for long distances. Also makes a rapid “kik-kik-kik” mostly during aggressive interactions.
– Hunts from an elevated perch or while soaring. Preys mostly on rodents and other small mammals, but will also take birds, reptiles and amphibians.
– Nests high up in trees, on cliffs or human structures. Builds a large stick nest relined annually. Typically lays 2-3 eggs that hatch after about a month.
– Population stable throughout much of range due to adaptability. Numbers increase in migration and winter.
Red-Shouldered Hawk
The red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) prefers wet woodlands and bottomlands but also occupies drier forests and suburban areas. Identification points include:
– Smaller and slimmer profile than red-tailed hawks with longer tail and wings.
– Named for its reddish shoulder patches which are visible at close range in good light.
– Most often detected by its whistled “kee-yar” call which drops in pitch. Calls frequently given in series.
– Perches low in trees compared to red-tails. Often seen along streams hunting amphibians and small mammals.
– Nest is typically below the canopy in a crook between large branches or in old crow/squirrel nests.
– Populations declined mid-1900s due to DDT poisoning and habitat loss but have rebounded in many areas.
– Occurs year-round in much of eastern North America. Northern birds migrate south in winter.
– Feeds mainly on small mammals, frogs, snakes, lizards, and insects. Will take birds at times.
– Similar Barred Owl can be distinguished by more vertical barring on the chest rather than horizontal like the hawk.
Broad-Winged Hawk
The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a small forest-dwellingAccipiter found breeding in the eastern United States and wintering in South America. Identification notes:
– About the size of a crow with relatively short, broad wings and a long banded tail.
– Occurs in deciduous and mixed forests, especially with tall old-growth trees for nesting.
– Named for its noticeably broad wings when soaring. Seen migrating in large kettles in September-October.
– Call is a whistled “pee-ah” rising in pitch. Very vocal near nest. Also makes a “kick-kick-kick” call.
– Builds a twig nest high in a tree-crotch. Lays 2-4 eggs once a year in late spring.
– Feeds mostly on small forest birds, frogs, snakes, mice and insects. Hunts from a perch.
– Status was threatened decades ago but made a strong recovery through protection. Still susceptible to deforestation.
– Does not build its own nest. Will reuse old crow, hawk, heron or squirrel nests.
– Similar in size and shape to the red-shouldered hawk but with more distinct banding on underside.
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a woodland hunter specialized for swift maneuvers in dense cover. Identifying traits are:
– Medium-sized hawk with a long banded tail and short rounded wings adapted for agile flight.
– Bright red eyes stand out on the angular head. Broad shoulders and long legs also give a distinctive profile.
– Found in forests, woods, and semi-open areas including urban parks and backyards where nests high in pines.
– Mainly eats small- to medium-sized birds captured in fast surprise attacks but also takes mammals and insects.
– Vocalizations include a loud staccato “kak-kak-kak” or dog-like barking heard near nest sites.
– Nests are well-hidden in dense foliage, often conifers. Lays 3-5 eggs in late spring.
– Populations stable overall. Expanding into suburb areas in the east.
– Very similar to the larger and less common northern goshawk found in northern forests.
– Juveniles have yellow eyes turning to red after 1 year. Often confused with sharp-shinned hawk which is smaller.