The Broad-winged Hawk is a medium-sized hawk found in forests across much of North America. With its distinctive broad, rounded wings and wingtips that curl up slightly when soaring, this buteo is a treat to observe gliding over the treetops.
Though it lives in some of the most populated parts of North America, the Broad-winged Hawk is considered one of the continent’s less common raptors. Just how rare is this forest falcon? Let’s take a closer look at the Broad-winged Hawk’s conservation status, population numbers, geographic range, and habitat to understand its current rarity.
Conservation Status
The leading authority on the conservation status of bird species is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This comprehensive inventory categorizes each species based on its risk of extinction. The Red List considers factors like population size, geographic range, habitat loss, and population trends.
The IUCN Red List classifies the Broad-winged Hawk as a species of Least Concern. This means it faces no immediate threats and has a widespread, stable population. However, the Red List notes its susceptibility to habitat loss and pesticides. Other organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and NatureServe do not consider it imperiled either.
So while not rare enough to warrant major conservation efforts, the Broad-winged Hawk population does require monitoring, especially as forests dwindle.
Population
Scientists estimate the global breeding population of Broad-winged Hawks to be around 1.2 million individuals. The species increased in number between 1966 and 2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
About 75% of the world’s Broad-winged Hawks live in the United States and Canada. There are approximately 800,000 of them in the U.S. and 350,000 in Canada.
Here is a table summarizing the estimated population of Broad-winged Hawks:
Region | Estimated Population |
---|---|
Global | 1.2 million |
United States | 800,000 |
Canada | 350,000 |
These numbers may seem substantial, but many other North American raptors like Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels are much more abundant. Overall, the Broad-winged Hawk ranks as a relatively uncommon buteo.
Range
Broad-winged Hawks breed in forested areas across a large swath of North America. Their breeding range extends from southern Canada through the eastern United States and along the Gulf Coast to Veracruz, Mexico.
Small numbers nest on the Pacific coast from British Columbia to northern California. The highest densities occur across the upper Midwest, New England, and eastern Canada.
This map shows the breeding and wintering range of the Broad-winged Hawk:
Broad-winged Hawks migrate in large flocks known as kettles to wintering grounds in South America. Their winter range consists of forests from Venezuela to Argentina.
While found across much of the Americas seasonally, the Broad-winged Hawk only nests in certain habitat types. This selective nesting behavior limits its breeding distribution and contributes to its uncommon status.
Habitat
Broad-winged Hawks inhabit deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests. They prefer large tracts of woodlands with a closed canopy and natural openings. Flocks concentrate along ridges and coastlines during migration.
On their tropical wintering grounds, Broad-winged Hawks occupy a variety of forested areas including rainforests, semideciduous woods, and savanna woodlands. They usually avoid open or developed areas.
Because they nest exclusively in dense, mature forests, destruction and fragmentation of these habitats have reduced breeding Broad-winged Hawk numbers. As logging, development, and agriculture claim forests across North America, populations become increasingly confined. Their specialized habitat needs make them more sensitive to deforestation than generalist raptors.
This table summarizes the primary breeding and wintering habitats of Broad-winged Hawks:
Season | Primary Habitats |
---|---|
Breeding (North America) | Deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests with a closed canopy |
Wintering (Central & South America) | Tropical rainforests, semideciduous forests, savanna woodlands |
Threats
As a forest specialist, the greatest threat to Broad-winged Hawks is habitat loss from logging, development, and land conversion. Forests provide ideal secluded nesting sites and ample prey for these hawks. When contiguous woodlands are fragmented into smaller patches, they become unsuitable for breeding.
Pesticides also endanger Broad-winged Hawks. Raptors accumulate chemicals as they eat tainted prey. These toxins can hinder reproduction and even prove fatal at high concentrations.
Because Broad-winged Hawks gather in huge flocks during migration, they are especially vulnerable to storms like hurricanes. High winds and heavy rain can displace these aggregations, causing disorientation and direct mortality.
Collisions with vehicles and windows claim many Broad-winged Hawks as they pass through unfamiliar urban and suburban areas. Communication towers also pose a hazard, especially when sited along ridges where migrating flocks congregate.
Rarity Outlook
While lacking the extreme rarity of endangered raptors like the Red-shouldered Hawk or Northern Goshawk, the Broad-winged Hawk sits on the uncommon side of the spectrum for North American buteos.
Habitat specialization makes it more susceptible to deforestation than generalist raptors like Red-tails. However, its large population and vast breeding range provide resiliency. This should enable Broad-winged Hawks to persist if sufficient mature forests remain across the landscape.
Ongoing monitoring of nest sites, migratory routes, wintering grounds, and mortality factors will allow managers to detect any concerning population declines before they become severe. With proactive habitat protection and threats reduction, the Broad-winged Hawk’s currently uncommon status should remain stable into the future.
Conclusion
The Broad-winged Hawk is considered a relatively rare raptor in North America, though not imperiled enough to warrant major conservation intervention at this time. With an estimated global population around 1 million, specialized nesting habits focused on mature forests, and threats from habitat loss and pesticides exposure, the Broad-winged Hawk sits on the uncommon side of the abundance spectrum for the continent’s buteos and accipiters. Maintaining adequate forest habitat across breeding, migrating, and wintering grounds will enable this fascinating forest falcon to persist in its current uncommon state. Ongoing monitoring and proactive management of threats should prevent any concerning population declines that could negatively impact the future of this unique soaring specialist.