Identifying a juvenile broad-winged hawk can be tricky for beginner birders. Broad-winged hawks are a relatively small Buteo hawk species found in forests across North America. Juveniles have distinct plumage differences compared to adults that can make identification challenging.
In this article, we’ll cover the key identification points to look for when trying to identify a juvenile broad-winged hawk. We’ll go over differences in plumage, size, shape, flight patterns, habitat, range, and vocalizations. With some practice, you’ll be able to confidently pick out a juvenile broad-winged hawk in the field.
Plumage Differences
The most noticeable difference between juvenile and adult broad-winged hawks is in their plumage. Juveniles have plumage that lacks the rich rufous coloring on the chest and wing linings that give the adults their namesake broad, russet-colored wings.
Instead, juvenile broad-winged hawks have largely brown and white streaked plumage. The head is mostly white with delicate brown streaks. The chest is light with heavy brown streaking that gets denser on the belly. The wings are darker brown on top with light barring on the flight feathers.
There is very little, if any, rufous-coloring visible. The tail may show some faint banding. The cere and legs are yellowish.
This plumage helps juveniles blend into the trees of deciduous and mixed forests as they learn to hunt. After their first full molt at around 12-15 months old, they will acquire more adult-like plumage.
Plumage Changes
Juvenile broad-winged hawks go through progressive plumage changes before fully molting into adult plumage after their first year:
- 0-4 weeks – Downy charcoal gray plumage
- 4 weeks – 1st molt into juvenile brown plumage
- 3-4 months – Chest feathers begin showing white with heavy streaking
- 6 months – Back feathers start showing white barring
- 9 months – Rufous coloring just begins to emerge on belly and legs
- 12-15 months – Complete molt into adult plumage
Size and Shape
In addition to plumage differences, juvenile broad-winged hawks have slightly different proportions than adults that can aid in identification:
- Smaller overall size – About 10% smaller than adults. Juveniles average 13-16 inches in length with a wingspan of 27-33 inches.
- Slimmer build – Juveniles appear long-legged and slim around the chest until they fill out after 1-2 years.
- Smaller head – With a flatter crown and smaller beak that makes the head less broad and evenly sized with the body.
- Longer tail – Tail may appear disproportionally long for the overall size.
These physical traits adapt juveniles for the vigorous training they must go through to become successful hunters. Their smaller size allows them greater agility in flight and chasing prey through dense forest.
Flight Patterns
Due to their smaller size and lower body weight, juvenile broad-winged hawks have slightly different flight mannerisms than adult hawks:
- Faster wing beats – Their lighter weight allows juveniles to flap faster to gain altitude and speed.
- More erratic flight path – Juveniles tend to make more frequent lateral course adjustments and dips when cruising or hunting.
- Shorter glides – Until they build chest muscle, juveniles will beat their wings for a few moments then glide for a short spell rather than gliding long distances like adults.
- Labored take-offs – Taking off from a perch requires lots of effort so juveniles prefer launching from higher perches.
These flight behaviors give away the young age and inexperience of a broad-winged hawk in flight. Their movements appear less graceful and more erratic compared to the smooth gliding of adults.
Habitat
Broad-winged hawks inhabit mature deciduous or mixed forests across North America. Within these wooded environments, look for juveniles in the following prime habitat locations:
- Tree canopies – Perching and roosting in dense leaves provides cover and protection.
- Forest edges – Allows aerial scanning for prey at meadow borders and openings.
- Creeks – Riparian corridors provide small wildlife for hunting.
Juveniles have smaller home ranges up to 1 square mile centered around nesting sites. As they learn to hunt further afield, they may wander 6+ miles from the nest location by autumn.
Range
Like adults, juvenile broad-winged hawks occupy forested areas across North America. Their breeding range centers in Eastern North America:
- Eastern United States from Minnesota to Texas eastward
- Southern Canada from Saskatchewan to Quebec
During migration and winter they expand their range further South:
- Migrate through Central America
- Winter range extends into South America
Juveniles follow the same migratory pathways as adults beginning in mid-September through October. Young birds migrating solo for the first time have high mortality rates.
Vocalizations
Juvenile broad-winged hawks make higher pitched, sharper sounding calls than adults due to their smaller vocal apparatus. They have a distinctive descending kee-eee-arrr cry.
Other common juvenile vocalizations include:
- Food beg call – High, whistled seee
- Alarm call – Fast klee-uk klee-uk klee-uk
These juvenile-specific vocalizations can help locate hidden young birds not yet adept at hunting or identify individual birds calling from dense foliage.
Similar Species
There are a few other hawk species to be aware of that have similar juvenile plumage to the broad-winged hawk:
Red-shouldered Hawk
- Larger with broader wings
- Longer, slim tail with narrower white bands
- Reddish-brown wing linings
- Nests in wet forests
Swainson’s Hawk
- Larger with distinctive bib streaking
- White wing patches in flight
- Only juvenile Buteo with dark eyes
Red-tailed Hawk
- Much larger with stockier build
- Broader, shorter wings
- Belly-band streaking
- Wide range of plumage variation
Taking note of differences in size, proportions, plumage markings, flight habits, habitat, and vocalizations allows positive identification of a juvenile broad-winged hawk compared to other potential species.
Conclusion
Identifying juvenile broad-winged hawks requires paying close attention to subtle plumage and structural differences compared to adults. Understanding their progression of feather changes, smaller size and flight abilities, vocalizations, preferred forest habitat, and range aids in making a confident identification.
With practice observing broad-winged hawk behaviors and a little patience waiting for a juvenile to reveal itself from forest cover, you’ll be able to spot the differences that set them apart from similar hawk species.